Saltation
Topic: Landforms and their Evolution: Rivers, Groundwater, Glaciers, Waves and Wind · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Landforms and their Evolution"
Meaning
Saltation is the movement of grains in short hops and bounces along the ground. Wind or water lifts a grain a little, carries it a short way, and drops it. When it lands, it knocks other grains into the air. Wind moves material in three ways: rolling, saltation and suspension (fine dust carried high in the air). Each size of grain moves in a different way, so wind sorts material well. That is why wind deposits are well sorted, unlike glacial till.
Example
In the Thar desert near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, sand grains bounce along the ground in strong winds. This is how dunes move and how sand drifts across roads.
Don't confuse with
- Suspension: very fine dust carried high in the air for long distances. Saltating grains stay close to the ground, which is why wind abrasion is strongest near the ground.