Final answer:
The placement of continents affects the climate system mainly through changes in plate tectonics, which alter ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns. On a time scale of millions of years, the movement and location of continents is the biggest influence on Earth's climate system. The position of continents affects ocean and atmospheric circulation, which are responsible for redistributing heat from warmer to cooler areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general forcing factor of a climate system that involves the placement of continents is a change in plate tectonics. On a geological time scale, plate tectonics is the dominant factor affecting Earth's climate system. The positioning of continents influences ocean and atmospheric circulation, which are crucial in redistributing heat from the equatorial regions to the polar regions. Environmental factors like the Earth's orbital patterns and changes in solar output also affect climate but primarily on different time scales.