Final answer:
Wind causes sediment to move in a bouncing or leaping manner, known as saltation, which contributes to the formation of cross-bedding structures in clastic sedimentary rocks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Saltation is a key mechanism in the formation of features like sand dunes and riverbeds. It plays a crucial role in shaping landscapes by redistributing sediment and influencing the erosion and deposition of materials in various geological settings.
During the process of sediment transportation by wind, sediment grains are lifted into the air and fall back down in a hopping or bouncing motion, not far from where they were originally picked up.
Cross-bedding is a sedimentary structure commonly seen in sand dunes and formed from the deposition and erosion processes involving saltation. The phenomenon of saltation is also critical in the formation of clastic sedimentary rocks, where materials are carried by water or air and eventually deposited, forming layers of sedimentary rock.