Why Study Subduction Zones?
Introduction to Volcanic Arc systems highlights the importance of understanding how subduction zones operate. For example, many of the Earth’s most active ‘Decade Volcanoes’ are associated with subduction zones. In addition, siesmicity associated with subduction zones may result in significant earthquake and tsunami hazards in contiguous areas. Further rationales for scientific investigation of subduction processes are provided in the following links: Related workshop reports • Subduction Factory Workshop rationale • Izu-Bonin-Marianas Workshop • MARGINS Initiative • Magmatism & mass fluxes at convergent margins Plate tectonics – the basics Lithospheric plates. The uppermost part of the Earth is subdivided into a small number of rigid plates which comprise about 85% of the surface. In places these are separated by non-rigid (deforming) zones. Elsewhere plate boundaries of three types exist: divergent or spreading (e.g., mid-oceanic ridges), convergent (e.g., subduction zones), and stri
