In geology, the term for the movement of tectonic plates is plate tectonics. This theory describes how large plates that make up the Earth's lithosphere shift due to the heat from the mantle. The movement can lead to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains. Plate tectonics is responsible for the evolving landscape of the Earth and affects climate and oceanic processes, making it a foundational concept in geology and earth sciences.