underthrusting
/ˈʌndərˌθrʌstɪŋ/
noun
- The action or process of one tectonic plate moving beneath another.
- Underthrusting is responsible for many of the world's deepest earthquakes.
- Geologists monitor underthrusting zones to predict potential tsunamis.
- The underthrusting of the seafloor creates volcanic arcs on the overriding plate.
Synonyms
adjective
- Relating to or involved in the process of one plate moving under another.
- The underthrusting boundary is a region of intense geological activity.
- Underthrusting motion can cause the crust to fold and fracture.
- The underthrusting plate slowly melts as it descends into the mantle.