GEOMORPHOLOGY — Name the transport process of short hops Question: The process in which sediment grains move from the surface into the flow and back again in quick, continuous, repeated short jumps is called:

Introduction / Context:
Sediment transport in air or water occurs via several mechanisms depending on grain size and flow energy. Distinguishing saltation from suspension, traction, and solution is a core skill in geomorphology and sedimentology.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Grains leave the bed briefly, travel in short ballistic paths, and return to the surface.
• Motion is repetitive and closely coupled with the boundary layer.
• Typical grain sizes are sand-sized in wind or water flows.

Concept / Approach:
Saltation is characterized by hopping motion: grains are intermittently lifted, transported a short distance, and re-impact the bed, often ejecting other grains. Suspension involves finer particles carried within the flow with negligible settling during transport. Traction describes rolling or sliding along the bed. Solution refers to ions carried in water.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the key descriptor: “quick, repeated short jumps.”Match with standard process terminology → saltation.Exclude suspension (continuous carry), traction (rolling/sliding), and solution (dissolved load).

Verification / Alternative check:
Classic dune studies and flume experiments show saltation as the dominant transport mode for medium sand in moderate winds or streams, producing ripple and dune bedforms.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Suspension — particles remain aloft with turbulent support, not short hops.Traction — grains maintain contact with the bed.Solution — involves dissolved chemical species, not grains.Fallout — refers to deposition, not transport mode.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming saltation occurs only in deserts. It also occurs in rivers and coastal zones for appropriate grain sizes and flow regimes.

Final Answer:
saltation