Wind　tunnel　experiments　were　carried　out　to　investigate　the　saltation　of　sand　particles　in　the　atmospheric　boundary　layer.　A　high-speed　digital　camera　was　employed　to　record　the　saltating　sand　particles＇　trajectories.　The　overlapping　particle　tracking　velocimetry　algorithm　was　introduced　to　process　the　consecutive　images.　By　the　advantages　of　high-speed　digital　camera,　motion　parameters　of　single　sand　particle　can　be　obtained　much　easier　and　with　a　high　temporal　resolution　than　that　of　conventional　photography.　Velocities　and　accelerations　of　sand　particles　along　the　whole　trajectory　were　calculated.　Furthermore,　proportions　of　forces　acting　on　the　saltating　sand　particles　were　analyzed　to　learn　their　relative　significance.　The　results　showed　that,　besides　gravity,　the　aerodynamic　drag　was　the　main　force　that　affected　the　motion　of　sand　particles.　©2010　IEEE.