"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 area where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another into the mantle by gravity. This process results in the formation of deep ocean trenches and volcanism.
"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."