subduction
Plate slides beneath
Subduction is a geological process in which one tectonic plate slides beneath another and descends into the Earth's mantle.
This occurs at convergent plate boundaries, typically where oceanic crust meets continental crust, and creates subduction zones associated with deep ocean trenches, volcanic activity, and earthquakes.
The Pacific Ring of Fire owes its seismic activity to subduction zones along its margins.
Flat dish for food
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- asthenosphereDuctile upper mantle layer
- mantleCovering or wrap
- oceanicOf the sea
continental · boundary · convergent · trench · slab · megathrust · downwelling · subducting
Seismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- megathrustMassive subduction zone fault
- seismicityEarthquake frequency measure
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
magnitude · epicenter · fault · rupture · aftershock · foreshock · shaking · liquefaction
Molten rock underground
- eruptionViolent sudden release
- arcCurved line segment
- Ring of FirePacific tectonic boundary zone
- AndesSouth American western range
Cascades · andesite · stratovolcano · partial melting · volatiles · pyroclastic · caldera · lava
Tall natural landmass
- orogenyGeological mountain formation
- upliftRaise emotionally or physically
- foldingBending something over itself
- thrustingPushing with force
nappe · compression · collision · accretion · terrane · suture · metamorphism · exhumation
Long narrow excavation
- Mariana TrenchDeepest oceanic chasm
- Challenger DeepDeepest known ocean location
- abyssalExtremely deep, unmeasurable
- deep-seaOf ocean depths
plate
Flat dish for food
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- asthenosphereDuctile upper mantle layer
- mantleCovering or wrap
oceanic · continental · boundary · convergent · trench · slab · megathrust · downwelling · subducting · descending
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- megathrustMassive subduction zone fault
- seismicityEarthquake frequency measure
tremor · magnitude · epicenter · fault · rupture · aftershock · foreshock · shaking · liquefaction · seismology
magma
Molten rock underground
- eruptionViolent sudden release
- arcCurved line segment
- Ring of FirePacific tectonic boundary zone
Andes · Cascades · andesite · stratovolcano · partial melting · volatiles · pyroclastic · caldera · lava · igneous
mountain
Tall natural landmass
- orogenyGeological mountain formation
- upliftRaise emotionally or physically
- foldingBending something over itself
thrusting · nappe · compression · collision · accretion · terrane · suture · metamorphism · exhumation · Himalayas
trench
Long narrow excavation
- Mariana TrenchDeepest oceanic chasm
- Challenger DeepDeepest known ocean location
- abyssalExtremely deep, unmeasurable
deep-sea · sediment · oceanic crust · bathymetry · sedimentation
- earthquakesearthquake, quake, earthquakes, quakes, epicenter
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- geology termsfossils, rock layers, schist, core sample, gneiss
- plate tectonicstectonic plates, plate tectonics, plate boundaries, continental drift, Pangaea
- geological processesweathering, erosion, sedimentation, metamorphism, crystallization
- Pacific volcanismRing of Fire, lava, magma, eruption, ash
subductiondivergence
Separation from common origin
rifting · uplift · exhumation · extension
- subduction zoneWhere one plate slides under another