The generation of new lithosphere at ocean spreading ridges (divergent plate margins) is balanced by the destruction of lithosphere at subduction zones (convergent plate margins). Ocean trenches, volcanic arcs and deep earthquakes that define inclined Benioff seismic zones occur at most sites where lithosphere capped by oceanic crust subducts into the interior of the earth at relative speeds from 10 to as much as 110 km Ma-1 (1 to 11 cm yr-1). Geological and geophysical investigations have shown that at some sites of plate convergence, such as the Lesser Antilles (Fig. 1), the sediment carried on the incoming plate is largely accreted onto the leading edge of the overriding plate at depths of only a few kilometers, whereas at others, such as Mariana, not only is the incoming sediment completely subducted to unseen depths, but also some of the overriding plate is detached and deeply subducted as well. This article focuses on the geologic and geophysical aspects of subduction zones that...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Cowan, D. S., 1985, Structural styles in Mesozoic and Cenozoic melanges in the Western Cordillera of North America, Geol. Soc. America Bull. 96, 451–462.
Davis, D., J. Suppe, and F. A. Dahlen, 1983, Mechanics of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges, Jour. Geophys. Research 88, 1153–1172.
Dickinson, W. R., and D. R. Seely, 1979, Structure and stratigraphy of forearc regions, Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull. 62, 2–31.
Ernst, W. G., 1975, Systematics of large-scale tectonics and age progressions in Alpine and circum-Pacific blueschist belts, Tectonophysics 26, 229–246.
Honda, S., and S. Uyeda, 1983, Thermal process in subduction zone—a review and preliminary approach on the origin of arc volcanism, in D. Shimozuru and I. Yokoyama, eds., Arc Volcanism: Physics and Tectonics, Tokyo: Terra Scientific Publishing Company (TERRAPUB), 117–140.
Isacks, B., J. Oliver, and L. R. Sykes, 1968, Seismology and the new global tectonics, Jour. Geophys. Research 73, 5855–5899.
Karig, D. E., 1983, Deformation in the forearc: implications for mountain belts, in K. J. Hsu, ed., Mountain Building Processes. London: Academic Press, 59–72.
Moore, J. C., J. S. Watkins, T. H. Shipley, K. J. McMillen, S. B. Bachman, and N. Lundberg, 1982, Geology and tectonic evolution of a juvenile accretionary terrane along a truncated convergent margin: synthesis of results from Leg 66 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, southern Mexico, Geol. Soc. America Bull. 93, 847–861.
Seely, D. R., P. R. Vail, and G. G. Walton, 1974, Trench slope model, in C. A. Burk and C. L. Drake, eds., Geology of the Continental Margins. New York: Springer-Verlag, 249–260.
Shreve, R. L., and M. Cloos, 1986, Dynamics of sediment subduction, melange formation, and prism accretion, Jour. Geophys. Research 91, 10229–10245.
Tera, F., L. Brown, J. Morris, I. S. Sacks, J. Klein, and R. Middleton, 1986, Sediment incorporation in island-arc magmas: inferences from 10Be, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 50, 535–550.
von Huene, R., 1984, Tectonic processes along the front of modern convergent margins—research of the past decade, Ann. Rev. Earth and Planetary Sci. 12, 359–381.
Cross-references
Accretionary Tectonics: Examples from the North American Cordillera; Continental Collision Zones: Seismotectonics and Crustal Structure; Crustal Movements and Tectonic Deformation; Earthquake Mechanisms and Plate Tectonics; Earthquake Seismology; Far-Traveled Terranes; Mantle, Upper: Structure; Seismicity: Subduction Zone; Thin-Skin Tectonics.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Van Nostrand Reinhold
About this entry
Cite this entry
Cloos, M. (1989). Subduction zones . In: Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30752-4_149
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30752-4_149
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-442-24366-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-30752-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive