Chapter 9: Problem 17

Why do you suppose that active volcanoes, such as Mount St. Helens in Washington State, are usually located in mountain ranges that border on subduction zones?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Active volcanoes are usually located in mountain ranges that border on subduction zones due to the intense geological activity in these regions. The subduction process forms magma which, when forced upwards, creates a volcano. Concurrently, the tectonic forces cause the crust to buckle and fold, forming mountain ranges.

Step by step solution

Understanding Active Volcanoes

Active volcanoes are those which have erupted recently in the geologic time and have the potential to erupt again. They are primarily located along tectonic plate boundaries.

Understanding Mountain Ranges

Mountain ranges are formed due to the movements and collisions of the Earth's tectonic plates. When two plates collide, the crust is forced upwards, forming mountain ranges.

Understanding Subduction Zones

A subduction zone is a region of the Earth's crust where one tectonic plate moves under another, often leading to volcanic activity. This is because the subducting plate sinks into the mantle and its materials start to melt forming magma. This magma is forced upwards and can lead to volcanic eruptions.

Linking Volcanoes, Mountain Ranges, and Subduction Zones

Active volcanoes are usually located in mountain ranges that border on subduction zones because the intense geological activity in these regions creates the perfect conditions for volcano formation. The subduction of one plate under another creates a source of magma that can be forced upwards to create a volcano. The same tectonic forces also cause the crust to buckle and fold creating mountain ranges.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Why do you suppose that active volcanoes, such as Mount St. Helens in Washington State, are usually located in mountain ranges that border on subduction zones?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Active Volcanoes

Understanding Mountain Ranges

Understanding Subduction Zones

Linking Volcanoes, Mountain Ranges, and Subduction Zones

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Fundamentals of Physics

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Medical Physics

Geometrical and Physical Optics

Force

Nuclear Physics

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.