Subduction

Subduction is a geological process that occurs at tectonic plate boundaries. It involves one tectonic plate being forced beneath another plate into the Earth's mantle. This process is driven by the movement of the plates, with the denser plate sinking below the less dense plate.

When two tectonic plates collide, the denser oceanic plate is subducted beneath the less dense continental plate or another oceanic plate. The subducting plate moves at an angle into the Earth's mantle, deforming and causing geological features such as mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The subducting plate continues to sink into the mantle until it is eventually melted and recycled back into the Earth's interior.

Subduction is responsible for the formation of major geological features such as ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and mountain ranges. It also plays a significant role in the Earth's carbon cycle, as carbon can be trapped and stored in the subducted rocks.

Overall, subduction is a fundamental process in plate tectonics and has shaped the Earth's surface over millions of years.