Subduction zones, island arcs and active continental margins

Abstract

Subduction zones are created when two lithospheric plates move against each other and one of the two plates descends under the other through the process of subduction. However, only oceanic lithosphere is able to sink deeply into the Earth’s mantle to become reincorporated there. Continental crustal material is generally too light to be subducted to great depth. The interaction of the subduction zone and the asthenosphere of the mantle generates the melts that rise to feed the volcanism typical of island arcs and active continental margins.