"Subduction is a geological process in which the oceanic lithosphere and some continental lithosphere is recycled into the Earth's mantle at convergent boundaries."
When two plates move towards each other, and the denser plate is slowly forced beneath the lighter, overriding plate. This can cause volcanic activity, earthquakes, and mountain formation.
Plate tectonics: The theory that explains the movement of the Earth's crust into different plates and how they interact with each other.
Convergent plate boundaries: The area where two plates are moving towards each other, which can result in the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Subduction zones: The area where one of the plates sinks beneath the other, causing the production of magma and volcanic activity.
Oceanic-oceanic convergence: When two oceanic plates converge, it can result in the formation of volcanic islands or chains of islands known as island arcs.
Continental-continental convergence: When two continental plates converge, it can lead to the formation of mountains and can cause earthquakes.
Oceanic-continental convergence: When an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate, it can result in the formation of volcanic mountains and can also cause earthquakes.
The Ring of Fire: The area around the Pacific Ocean where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur due to the converging of multiple continental and oceanic plates.
Accretionary wedges: The buildup of sedimentary rock in subduction zones due to the compressive forces of converging plates.
The Wilson Cycle: The theoretical process that describes the lifespan of an ocean from its formation to its eventual closure due to converging plates.
Plate boundary zones: The transitional areas between different types of plate boundaries, which can exhibit complex geological features such as a mix of volcanic and tectonic activity.
Oceanic-Continental Convergent Boundary: This type of boundary is formed when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate. The denser oceanic plate subducts under the continental plate, forming a deep ocean trench and causing volcanic activity.
Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent Boundary: This type of boundary occurs when two oceanic plates collide. The denser plate subducts under the other oceanic plate, creating a volcanic island arc and deep ocean trench.
Continental-Continental Convergent Boundary: This type of boundary arises when two continental plates collide. Due to their buoyancy, these plates cannot subduct under each other. The collision causes the formation of high mountain ranges.
Collision Zone: This type of convergent boundary is similar to the continental-continental boundary. Two plates of equal density (oceanic or continental) collide and form high mountain ranges.
Continental Rift Zone: This type of boundary forms between two continental plates when they diverge, creating a rift valley. Over time, this rift can grow and become a new ocean basin.
Transform Fault Boundary: This type of boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally in a 'sideways' motion. Transform boundaries do not create or destroy lithospheric material, but instead move it horizontally. The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of a transform fault.
"Where the oceanic lithosphere of a tectonic plate converges with the less dense lithosphere of a second plate, the heavier plate dives beneath the second plate and sinks into the mantle."
"A region where this process occurs is known as a subduction zone, and its surface expression is known as an arc-trench complex."
"The process of subduction has created most of the Earth's continental crust."
"Rates of subduction are typically measured in centimeters per year, with rates of convergence as high as 11 cm/year."
"Subduction is possible because the cold oceanic lithosphere is slightly denser than the underlying asthenosphere, the hot, ductile layer in the upper mantle underlying the cold, rigid lithosphere."
"Once initiated, stable subduction is driven mostly by the negative buoyancy of the dense subducting lithosphere."
"The slab sinks into the mantle largely under its weight."
"Earthquakes are common along the subduction zone, and fluids released by the subducting plate trigger volcanism in the overriding plate."
"If the subducting plate sinks at a shallow angle, the overriding plate develops a belt of deformation characterized by crustal thickening, mountain building, and metamorphism."
"Subduction at a steeper angle is characterized by the formation of back-arc basins."
"Subduction is a geological process in which the oceanic lithosphere and some continental lithosphere is recycled into the Earth's mantle at convergent boundaries."
"The cold oceanic lithosphere is slightly denser than the underlying asthenosphere."
"The negative buoyancy of the dense subducting lithosphere drives stable subduction."
"Arc-trench complexes are the surface expression of subduction zones."
"The process of subduction has created most of the Earth's continental crust."
"Earthquakes are common along the subduction zone."
"Fluids released by the subducting plate trigger volcanism in the overriding plate."
"Crustal thickening, mountain building, and metamorphism characterize the belt of deformation in the overriding plate when the subducting plate sinks at a shallow angle."
"The formation of back-arc basins is a result of subduction at a steeper angle."