backarc

Example:The backarc basin in the Mariana Islands is a prime example of how tectonic activity shapes the ocean floor.

Definition:A specific type of basin that forms behind a volcanic arc in a subduction zone.

Example:Deep sea earthquakes often occur at subduction zones, some of which are associated with backarc basins.

Definition:A region where one tectonic plate moves under another and is forced into the mantle.

Example:The Andes mountain range is a volcanic arc formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate.

Definition:A range of volcanoes that are aligned along a fault line where one tectonic plate subducts under another.

Example:The large geologic depressions in the backarc basin provide insight into the tectonic history of the surrounding region.

Definition:A low area in the Earth's surface formed by natural processes over long periods of time.