Describe a Benioff Zone and give an example!
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/glossary.php?term=Benioff%20zone
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A Benioff Zone, also known as a Wadati-Benioff Zone, is a deep inclined seismic zone that occurs along convergent plate boundaries where one tectonic plate subducts (moves beneath) another. This zone is named after two seismologists, Hugo Benioff and Kiyoo Wadati, who independently coined the concept.
To understand how a Benioff Zone forms, it's important to know that the Earth's lithosphere (outermost layer) is divided into several large tectonic plates. When two plates collide, one can subduct beneath the other due to differences in density. As the subducting plate sinks into the mantle, it generates intense forces and pressure. This results in earthquakes along a sloping plane, which we refer to as the Benioff Zone.
An example of a Benioff Zone is the one along the western coast of South America, known as the Peru-Chile Trench. This area is marked by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. The earthquakes generated in this region, including the devastating 1960 Valdivia earthquake, are a direct consequence of the Benioff Zone.
To find information about specific Benioff Zones, you can explore geological databases, scientific papers, or seismic monitoring agencies. These sources will provide detailed data about the location, depth, and seismic activity within these zones.