Here's how it works:
* Wind or waves provide the energy to move the sand grains.
* Larger grains are lifted by the wind or waves and propelled forward in a hopping or bouncing motion.
* Smaller grains are too light to be lifted, so they are rolled along the surface.
* The combination of hopping and rolling creates the zigzag pattern known as saltation.
This process is a key part of how beaches are formed and shaped, and it also plays a role in the transportation of sand along coastlines.
