Subduktsioonitsoonides

Subduction zones are geological features where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. This process is known as subduction and occurs at convergent plate boundaries, where two plates collide. Subduction zones are characterized by intense seismic activity, as the subducting plate descends into the mantle, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The descending plate melts as it reaches deeper levels, forming magma that can rise to the surface, creating volcanic arcs. These arcs are chains of volcanoes that form parallel to the trench, where the subducting plate bends and descends. The most well-known subduction zone is the one along the western coast of South America, where the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate, creating the Andes mountain range and the volcanic activity of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Subduction zones play a crucial role in the Earth's geodynamics, contributing to the recycling of the planet's crust and the formation of new crust through volcanic activity.