What geological process describes the movement of tectonic plates?

The answer "Plate tectonics" refers to the overarching theory that explains the movement of tectonic plates, which are massive sections of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle covering the planet's surface. The theory of plate tectonics integrates various geological phenomena and processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain formation, and the movement of continents, all of which are driven by the interactions of tectonic plates.

Plate tectonics helps us understand how these plates move relative to one another, including mechanisms like convection currents in the mantle that facilitate the movement. This process is responsible for many geological features and events, making it a fundamental concept in geology.

The other options represent specific processes or phenomena associated with tectonic plate movements; for instance, subduction refers to the process where one plate moves under another, and seafloor spreading involves the creation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges. Weathering, on the other hand, pertains to the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface and is unrelated to the movement of tectonic plates.