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.

AH
Answered by Alice H. Geography tutor

2721 Views

See similar Geography A Level tutors

Related Geography A Level answers

All answers ▸

How has the role of TNCS aided development in poorer countries?


How should I structure/answer an essay question (i.e. questions worth 12 marks and above)?


What is the development gap? and how is it measured?


Describe and comment on the social, economic and political implications of population change?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning