He suggested that continents plowed into ocean basins, which would explain the puzzle fit between continents. He was not the first to realize the puzzle-like fit, but was the first to notice Earth s surface changing through time. Since Wegener didn t have any support to why these continents moved, other geologists were skeptical. His theory was later disapproved, but it laid the groundwork for development of modern plate tectonics. The word tectonic is derived from the Greek word tekton which means builder.
Tectonic processes build landforms by causing an uplift in Earth s crust.
Continental collisions were recorded in the past by large eroded mountain chains, which form when continents collide. The majority of plate tectonics during Earth s history are uncertain, but the landform created by this process can continue for millions of years after the processes have ceased.