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The large-scale movement of continents over time is primarily driven by the shifting of tectonic plates. This process is a fundamental aspect of plate tectonics, where the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large and small plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. These plates are in constant motion due to convection currents caused by the heat from the Earth's interior.

As these tectonic plates interact at their boundaries—diverging, converging, or sliding past one another—they cause significant geological events, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the gradual repositioning of the continents. This movement occurs over millions of years, leading to the continental drift that has shaped the Earth's surface.

The other options do not drive the movement of continents in the same foundational way. Weather patterns, while impactful on the Earth's surface conditions, do not cause the tectonic movement. Ocean currents are primarily concerned with the movement of water rather than the movement of landmasses. Finally, magnetic field shifts relate more to the Earth's magnetic properties and geological history rather than actively driving the motion of tectonic plates.