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A study published in 2016 suggested a new parameter to determine a subduction zone's ability to generate mega-earthquakes. [71] By examining subduction zone geometry and comparing the degree of lower plate curvature of the subducting plate in great historical earthquakes such as the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman and the 2011 TÅhoku earthquake, it was ...
Diagram of a subduction zone. The megathrust fault lies on the top of the subducting slab where it is in contact with the overriding plate. The term megathrust refers to an extremely large thrust fault, typically formed at the plate interface along a subduction zone, such as the Sunda megathrust.
A diagram illustrating the interseismic, preseismic, and postseismic periods for a subduction zone earthquake cycle. The over-riding plate bends to accumulate stress during the interseismic period and rebounds back to its previous position to release stress.
On the Hyndman and Wang diagram (not shown, click on reference link below) the "locked" zone is storing up energy for an earthquake, and the "transition" zone, although somewhat plastic, could probably rupture. [10] The Cascadia subduction zone runs from triple junctions at its north and south ends.
The subduction zone can be defined by a plane where many earthquakes occur, called the Wadati–Benioff zone. [1] These collisions happen on scales of millions to tens of millions of years and can lead to volcanism, earthquakes, orogenesis, destruction of lithosphere, and deformation. Convergent boundaries occur between oceanic-oceanic ...
Diagram of Wadati–Benioff zone, from the United States Geological Survey Seismicity cross-section, Kuril Islands subduction zone, 15 November 2006, 8.3 M w event marked as star A Wadati–Benioff zone (also Benioff–Wadati zone or Benioff zone or Benioff seismic zone ) is a planar zone of seismicity corresponding with the down-going slab in ...
This results in the hanging wall flat (or a portion thereof) lying atop the foot wall ramp as shown in the fault-bend fold diagram. Thrust faults form nappes and klippen in the large thrust belts. Subduction zones are a special class of thrusts that form the largest faults on Earth and give rise to the largest earthquakes.
Obduction zones occurs when the continental plate is pushed under the oceanic plate, but this is unusual as the relative densities of the tectonic plates favours subduction of the oceanic plate. This causes the oceanic plate to buckle and usually results in a new mid-ocean ridge forming and turning the obduction into subduction. [citation needed]