Earth interior model
Simplified model of the Earth’s interior and its global dynamics featuring a solid inner and a fluid outer core, a viscous partially molten but not fluid mantle, and characteristic surface topography.
Subduction is a key geological process where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another into the Earth’s mantle, usually at convergent plate boundaries. It drives mountain building, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, shaping Earth’s surface and its deep interior over Millions of years. Subduction zones recycle oceanic crust, are critically driving plate tectonics, and influence global climate through carbon cycling. Famous observables related to subduction include the Mariana Trench and the Andes Mountains. Dive into observables and models of subduction, the critical process that makes our planet so different from all others we know!
Planetary interior
Comparison of suggested mantle convection in the Earth (mobile-lid mode) and Venus (inefficient short slab mode).
Slab-gap dynamics
Sketch of an evolution of an opening and sinking slab gap during oceanic subduction and the resulting surrounding mantle flow.
Volcanic arc creation
A conceptual view of a volcanic arc growing through the evolution of magmatism in subduction zones controlled by fluid and melt fluxes.
Subduction seismic anisotropy
Illustration of constraints on subduction zone seismic anisotropy from a global compilation of shear-wave splitting measurements.
