Subduction zones are the continuation in the deep subsurface of convergent plate margins. (See WHAT ARE SUBUDCTION ZONES for more information.) Convergent plate margins are dominantly found around the Pacific Ocean and the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, although a small fraction are found in the Atlantic and the Mediterannean sea (Fig. I-1).

The following table lists all of the subduction zones around the world (modified after Lallemand, 1999) and broken down as to whether or not what is being subducted is oceanic or continental and whether the arc is built on continental crust (Andean) or is an intra-oceanic convergent margin (IOCM).

The two Subduction Factory focus sites (Izu-Bonin-Mariana and Central America) are shown in bold letters in the list above and in Fig. I-1. The earth’s total of 52350 km of convergent plate margins is equivalent to about 31,400 miles. Four of these subduction zones are at least partly in the U.S.: Izu-Bonin-Mariana; Aleutians; Cascades; and Carribean.

References

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