Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
subduction
Noun
/səbˈdʌkʃən/
Definition
The process in which one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle as the plates converge.
Examples
- The Pacific Plate is currently undergoing subduction beneath the North American Plate.
- Subduction zones are often associated with mountain-building processes and deep ocean trenches.
- Researchers study subduction to understand its effects on tectonic activity and climate change.
Meaning
Subduction occurs when an oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle beneath a second plate, typically resulting in geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Synonyms
- Convergence
- Plate interaction
- Tectonic subduction
