Chapter 10: Problem 7

What is a Wadati-Benioff zone? At what depth do the deepest earthquakes occur? (B)

Short Answer

Expert verified

A Wadati-Benioff zone is a seismically active area in the Earth's crust where earthquakes occur within a subducting oceanic plate, also known as a subduction zone. The process involves the convergence of an oceanic and a continental plate, with the denser oceanic plate sliding beneath the continental plate. Earthquakes within a Wadati-Benioff zone can occur at depths ranging from a few kilometers below the surface down to about 670 kilometers (416 miles) below the Earth's surface, which is the depth at which the deepest earthquakes occur.

Step by step solution

Define Wadati-Benioff Zone

A Wadati-Benioff zone is a seismically active area in the Earth's crust where earthquakes occur within a subducting oceanic plate. This zone is also known as a subduction zone. When one tectonic plate, usually an oceanic plate, converges with and slides beneath a continental plate, the process of subduction takes place. As the descending oceanic plate slides down into the mantle, it releases stress in the form of earthquakes, which can be detected and measured.

Explain the formation process

The process of formation of the Wadati-Benioff zone is as follows: 1. Two tectonic plates converge, one oceanic and one continental. 2. The denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the less-dense continental plate. 3. As the oceanic plate descends into the Earth's mantle, it begins to heat up and partially melt. 4. Stress builds up in the subducting plate due to its movement and interaction with the overlying continental plate and the surrounding mantle. 5. The release of this stress causes earthquakes to occur along the downgoing oceanic plate.

Describe the depth of the earthquakes in the Wadati-Benioff Zone

The depth of the earthquakes occurring within a Wadati-Benioff zone varies, but they can occur at depths ranging from a few kilometers below the surface down to about 670 kilometers (416 miles) below the Earth's surface. As the oceanic plate descends farther into the mantle, the frequency and intensity of earthquakes typically increase.

Answer the question about the depth of the deepest earthquakes

The deepest earthquakes in a Wadati-Benioff zone occur at a depth of approximately 670 kilometers (416 miles) below the Earth's surface.

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What is a Wadati-Benioff zone? At what depth do the deepest earthquakes occur? (B)

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define Wadati-Benioff Zone

Explain the formation process

Describe the depth of the earthquakes in the Wadati-Benioff Zone

Answer the question about the depth of the deepest earthquakes

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