1 Why is the area around the convergent boundary also known as The zone of subduction 2 what features can be found around the zone of subduction that indicates the plates are smashing together 3why does one plate sink under another 4 what part of the convection currents in the mantle is causing this to happen
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1. The area around a convergent boundary is known as the zone of subduction because it is where two tectonic plates collide and one plate is forced underneath the other. This process is called subduction.
To understand why the area is called the zone of subduction, you can look at a map of tectonic plates or examine plate tectonic boundaries. You can use geological maps or online resources to locate the convergent boundaries. These boundaries are typically marked by features, such as deep ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and mountain ranges, which indicate the convergence and subduction of plates.
2. Several features can be found around the zone of subduction that indicate the plates are smashing together. Some of these features include:
- Deep Ocean Trenches: They are long, narrow depressions in the ocean floor where one tectonic plate is being forced beneath another. These trenches are typically formed at subduction zones and are the result of plate collision.
- Volcanic Arcs: They are curved chains of volcanoes that form parallel to the boundary where plates are colliding. These volcanoes are the result of magma rising to the surface as a result of the subduction process.
- Folded Mountain Ranges: Mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, the Andes, or the Alps, can be found near convergent boundaries. These mountains are formed by the intense compression and folding of rocks due to the collision of tectonic plates.
3. One tectonic plate sinks under another at a subduction zone due to differences in density and buoyancy between the plates. Essentially, the oceanic plate, which is generally denser than the continental plate, sinks beneath it.
When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate at a subduction zone, the denser oceanic plate is forced to sink into the mantle due to gravitational forces. The mantle is composed of hot, semi-fluid rock, which makes it easier for one plate to sink beneath the other.
4. The sinking of a tectonic plate is primarily driven by the subduction process, which is closely linked to convection currents in the mantle.
Convection currents in the mantle occur due to the heat generated by the Earth's core. The hotter, less dense material in the mantle rises towards the surface, while the cooler, denser material sinks back down. This cyclic movement of material in the mantle is known as convection.
As the convection currents carry the lithospheric plates along, at convergent boundaries, the denser plate is forced beneath the less dense plate due to the gravitational pull. The sinking process is a result of the buoyancy of the plates and the forces associated with the convection currents in the mantle.