#volcanic arc

[earthstory]

Coral reefs at the edge of Anak Krakatau and exploration of a number of volcanic craters by Drone, Indonesia

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Aerial view of the Andes Volcanic Arc in Chile

[earthstory]

A Volcanic Arc

This photo taken from a NASA aircraft in Guatemala illustrates pretty well why we call things volcanic arcs. It captures the long series of volcanic cones produced by subduction of oceanic crust beneath Central America. The volcanoes are produced in almost a line, created above the location where the subducting plate reaches 100 kilometers depth beneath the Earth’s surface.

-JBB

Image credit: http://www.nasa.gov/content/earth-science-radar-imaging-mission-travels-to-central-and-south-america