What term refers to the soil movement caused by wind?

The term that accurately refers to soil movement caused by wind is "Aeolian." Aeolian processes involve the transportation and deposition of soil and sediment by wind action. This is particularly significant in arid and semiarid regions where vegetation cover is sparse, allowing wind to pick up loose particles and transport them over distances.

Loess, which is soil composed of wind-blown silt, represents the result of Aeolian deposition rather than the process of soil movement itself. Alluvium refers to soil and sediment deposited by flowing water, typically in riverbeds or floodplains. Colluvium is material that has been moved down a slope due to gravity, often accumulating at the base of hills or slopes.

Understanding these distinctions clarifies that while loess is related to wind deposition, it does not define the movement process itself, making "Aeolian" the correct term for soil movement caused by wind.