Glossary of earthquake terms
(Image courtesy of David McConnell)
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Benioff
zone
A dipping planar
(flat) zone of earthquakes that is produced by the interaction
of a downgoing oceanic crustal plate with a continental
plate. These earthquakes can be produced by slip along the
subduction thrust fault or by slip on faults within the
downgoing plate as a result of bending and extension as
the plate is pulled into the mantle.
Also known as the Wadati-Benioff zone.
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