Density differences: The oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust. When oceanic and continental plates collide, the denser oceanic plate is forced to move beneath the less dense continental plate.
Gravity: The force of gravity pulls the denser oceanic plate down into the mantle, the layer of the Earth beneath the crust.
Mantle convection currents: The mantle is in constant motion due to convection currents. These currents carry the oceanic plate away from the collision zone and into the mantle.
The process of subduction creates several geological features, including mountain ranges (formed when the overriding continental plate is pushed upwards), volcanoes (formed when magma rises to the surface through the subduction zone), and deep ocean trenches (formed where the oceanic plate sinks into the mantle).
Subduction is a crucial process in the recycling of Earth's crust and is essential for the planet's dynamic geological system.
