This is just a question that I was curious about,
why do mountain belts run parallel to coastlines?
Thanks
The reason why mountain belts often run parallel to coastlines is due to a geological process called subduction.
To understand this process, we need to consider the Earth's tectonic plates. The Earth's lithosphere, which is broken into separate pieces called plates, floats on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath it. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly, due to convection currents within the asthenosphere.
Subduction occurs when two plates converge, or collide, with each other. Specifically, when an oceanic plate collides with either another oceanic plate or a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the less dense plate. This process is called subduction.
As the oceanic plate sinks deeper into the Earth's mantle, it creates a subduction zone where intense heat and pressure cause the water content within the sinking plate to be released. This water lowers the melting point of the mantle material above it, generating magma. The magma then rises to form volcanic arcs, which are chains of volcanoes that often run parallel to the coastlines.
Over time, the accumulation of volcanic material and the continued subduction of tectonic plates can create a mountain belt parallel to the coast. This is because the intense pressure and compression from the subduction process cause the crustal rocks to buckle, fold, and uplift, forming mountains.
Therefore, the parallel alignment between mountain belts and coastlines is primarily a result of the subduction process, where the collision of tectonic plates leads to the formation of mountains running parallel to the coasts.