The momentum profile of an aeolian saltation cloud is poorly understood. In this research, height profiles for saltation mo-mentum are reconstructed for three particle-size populations at four wind velocities based on profiles for mean particle velocity and relative particle concentration of saltation cloud obtained using particle image velocimetry in a wind tunnel. The results suggest that the saltation momentum profiles are characterized by peak curves with a maximum at some height above the surface. The height of this maximum increases with increasing wind velocity, but decreases with increasing par-ticle size. It is linearly correlated with average saltation height and is comparable with the results of numerical simulations in a previous study. Our results confirm that Bagnold’s kink is an important feature of wind velocity profiles modified by the presence of saltating particles and that the height of the kink is closely related to the average trajectories of the saltating particles.

The vertical variations in mean velocity and relative particle concentration of an aeolian saltation cloud were measured by means of state-of-the-art particle image velocimetry. Momentum profiles of saltation clouds were reconstructed from the measured profiles of mean particle velocity and particle concentration. These profiles were characterized by curves with a clear maximum value for saltation momentum at some height above the surface. The height of this maximum increases with increasing wind velocity and decreases with increasing particle size.The momentum profiles of the saltation cloud bear important information about the wind–saltation interac-tion. The height of the maximum saltation momentum is comparable to the theoretically simulated height of the maximum force per unit volume exerted by the saltating grains on the wind. It is also linearly related to the average saltation height of the saltation cloud. Our results confirm that Bagnold’s kink is an important feature of wind ve-locity profiles modified by the presence of saltating par-ticles and that height of the kink is closely related to the average trajectories of the saltating particles.A saltation cloud is a special case of a two-phase (gas–particle) flow in which information on the wind–saltation interaction is borne by both the saltating particles and the airflow. Comparison of the profiles of saltation momentum with the wind velocity profiles in-dicates that the two phenomena can be mutually con-firmed. However, a subsequent integrated study including both the characteristics of the saltating particles and the behavior of the related airflow is needed to fully under-stand the wind–saltation interaction in an aeolian saltation cloud.