Saltation is the movement of hard particles such as sand over a surface in a turbulent flow of water or air.
The transported material may include
- the dissolved load – dissolved substances or chemicals in the solution,
- the suspended load – tiny silt and clay particles or algae that are kept in suspension by the water’s flow, and
- the bed load – visible sand and gravel-sized sediments that typically travel along the lake or stream bed. Grains move either via hopping (saltation), or rolling and sliding (traction or creep).
The smaller particles move faster than those that remain on the bottom, with one major exception. If the bottom is very close to shore and there is significant wave action, then even the larger sand particles can be tossed about. Away from shore the suspended silt moves with the current and the bottom sand may move some if the current is strong.
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