Why are there both earthquakes and volcanoes at convergent plate boundaries?

Convergent plate boundaries, also known as destructive plate boundaries, occur when 2 plate boundaries move towards one another due to convection currents in the mantle. The oceanic crust is subducted (forced beneath) the continental crust as the oceanic crust is more dense.  Due to intense, friction, heat and the oceanic crust melts which increases the pressure in the mantle. This means viscous (thick) magma is forced out under pressure through the Earth's crust, resulting in a violent volcanic eruption from a composite cone volcano. When the plates move together, there is plenty of friction meaning there are powerful earhquakes at these plate margins too.

Answered by Alice H. Geography tutor

2288 Views

See similar Geography A Level tutors

Related Geography A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can a volcanic eruption be predicted?


What is a depression?


With reference to a named disease of affluence, outline the impact on health, economic development and lifestyle.


Describe the landforms associated with constructive plate margins and explain their formation


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences