MadSci Network: Earth Sciences |
I didn't know the answer to this one, but fortunately a geophysicist friend did. Here is her response: In general, subduction zones can be of two types: (1) oceanic plates subducting underneath continental plates (2) oceanic plates subducting underneath oceanic plates. Plates are created at spreading centers. In the case of oceanic lithosphere, as the plate moves away from the spreading center, it cools off, thereby becoming denser. Therefore, the older the plate, the denser the plate. When two plates meet at a subduction zone, the denser plate always subducts. Put another way, when two oceanic plates converge, the older plate is the one that is consumed. There are a number of examples around the world of ocean-ocean subduction zones. A few are: (a) The Philippine and Pacific plates. The Pacific Plate is subducting underneath the Philippine, creating the Mariana Trench. (b) The Caribbean Plate and the American Plate, where the American is diving underneath the Caribbean. (c) The Scotia Plate and the American Plate, where Scotia Plate is overriding the American Plate. (The Scotia Plate occupies a small area extending from the tip of South America eastward.)