subducting
Plate going beneath
Subducting is the present participle of subduct, a geological term for when one tectonic plate slides beneath another at a convergent boundary.
The subducting plate descends into the Earth's mantle, often triggering earthquakes and volcanic activity: The Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate.
The noun form is subduction.
Earth's fiery vent
- volcanic arcCurved line of volcanoes
- volcanismSubterranean magma expulsion process
- andesiteIntermediate volcanic rock
- stratovolcanoLayered cone-shaped volcanic mountain
explosive eruption · Ring of Fire · pluton · batholith · igneous · geothermal
Long narrow excavation
- oceanic trenchDeepest seafloor depression
- accretionary wedgeSediment pile at subduction zones
- plate boundaryWhere Earth's sections meet
- megathrustMassive subduction zone fault
Seismic ground movement
- seismicityEarthquake frequency measure
- megathrustMassive subduction zone fault
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- seismic zoneEarthquake-prone geographic area
Wadati-Benioff zone · rupture · tsunami · aftershock · epicenter · magnitude · seismology
Covering or wrap
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- asthenosphereDuctile upper mantle layer
- oceanic crustBasaltic layer beneath seas
- continental crustGranitic lithosphere under landmasses
volcano
Earth's fiery vent
- volcanic arcCurved line of volcanoes
- volcanismSubterranean magma expulsion process
- andesiteIntermediate volcanic rock
stratovolcano · explosive eruption · Ring of Fire · pluton · batholith · igneous · geothermal
trench
Long narrow excavation
- oceanic trenchDeepest seafloor depression
- accretionary wedgeSediment pile at subduction zones
- plate boundaryWhere Earth's sections meet
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- seismicityEarthquake frequency measure
- megathrustMassive subduction zone fault
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
Wadati-Benioff zone · seismic zone · rupture · tsunami · aftershock · epicenter · magnitude · seismology
mantle
Covering or wrap
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- asthenosphereDuctile upper mantle layer
- oceanic crustBasaltic layer beneath seas
continental crust · seafloor · partial melting · serpentinite · mélange
subductingdiverging
Separating from a common point
spreading · rifting · overriding · sliding · separating
- subduction zoneWhere one plate slides under another