Formation of a New Subduction Zone by Lithospheric Collapse Next to a Fracture Zone

A subduction zone is where an oceanic plate slides sideways and down into the mantle. The sinking of oceanic lithosphere in subduction zones powers plate tectonics and is where the most powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions occur. Geoscientists have understood a lot of things about how subduction zones operate but much less about how they form This video, based on numerical modelling by Prof. Taras Gerya’s group at ETH Zurich shows one way that a new subduction zone can form, when old, dense oceanic lithosphere sinks adjacent to a major lithospheric weakness such as a transform fault or fracture zone. To learn more about this fascinating topic, please read the papers listed at the end of this video. If you like this please consider subscribing to the UTD Geoscience Studios YouTube channel. Credits Writing - R.J. Stern Narration - Ali Sealander Editing - Zach Clowdus References Gerya, T.V., Connolly, ., Yuen, D.A., 2008. Why is terrestrial subduction one-sided? Geology, 36(1), 43-46. Stern, R.J., and Gerya, T., 2018. Subduction Initiation in nature and models: A review. Tectonophysics 746, 173-198.