Convergent plate margin dynamics: New perspectives from structural geology, geophysics and geodynamic modelling

Oct 26, 2026

Convergent plate margin dynamics explains how converging tectonic plates form subduction zones and collision zones, making plate boundaries among the most complex and dynamic systems on Earth. The review traces historical development of geological and geodynamic theories and synthesizes recent advances from structural geology, geophysics, and geodynamics. Key findings include comparable plate-boundary velocities globally, much stronger subducted slabs than ambient upper mantle, roles of lateral slab edges and tearing, and tomography evidence for penetration into the lower mantle.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Subduction zones and collision zones

Tectonophysics 483 (2010) 4–19 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Tectonophysics journal homepage: [www. elsevier. com/locate/tecto](www. elsevier. com/locate/tecto) Convergent plate margin dynamics: New perspectives from structural geology, geophysics and geodynamic modelling W.P. Schellart a,⁎, N. Rawlinson b a School of Geosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia b Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: Received 26 May 2009 Received in revised form 28 August 2009 Accepted 31 August 2009 Available online 10 September 2009 Keywords: Convergent plate margin Subduction Collision Orogenesis Slab Plate tectonics Convergent plate margins occur when two adjoining tectonic plates come together to form either a subduction zone, where at least one of the converging plates is oceanic and plunges beneath the other into the mantle, or a collision zone, where two continents or a continent and a magmatic arc collide. Convergent plate margins are arguably the most complicated and dynamic plate boundaries on Earth and have been the subject of many investigations and discussions since the advent of plate tectonic theory. This paper provides a historical background and a review of the development of geological and geodynamic theories on convergent plate margins. Furthermore, it discusses some of the recent advances that have been made in the ﬁelds of structural geology, geophysics and geodynamics, which are fundamental to our understanding of this phenomenon. These include: (1) the ﬁnding that plates and plate boundaries move at comparable velocities across the globe; (2) the emerging consensus that subducted slabs are between two to three orders of magnitude stronger than the ambient upper mantle; (3) the importance of lateral slab edges, slab tearing and toroidal mantle ﬂow patterns for the evolution of subduction zones; and (4) clear evidence from mantle tomography that slabs can penetrate into the lower mantle. Still, many ﬁrst-order problems regarding the geodynamic processes that operate at convergent margins remain to be solved. These include subduction zone initiation and the time of inception of plate tectonics, and with it convergent plate margins, on Earth. Fundamental problems in orogenesis include the mechanism that initiated Andean mountain building at the South American subduction zone, the potential episodicity of mountain building with multiple cycles of shortening and extension, and the principal driving force behind the construction of massive mountain belts such as the Himalayas–Tibet and the Andes. Fundamental questions in subduction dynamics regard the partitioning of subduction into a trench and plate component, and the distribution of energy dissipation in the system. In seismic imaging, challenges include improving resolution at mid to lower mantle depth in order to properly understand the fate of slabs, and better constraining the 3-D ﬂow-related anisotropic structure in the surrounding mantle. Future insights into such fundamental problems and into the regional and global dynamics of convergent plate margins will likely be obtained from integrating spatio-temporal data, structural geological data, geophysical data and plate kinematic data into plate tectonic reconstructionsand three-dimensional geodynamic models of progressive deformation. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Convergent plate margins have traditionally been subdivided into two categories: subduction zones and collision zones (Fig. 1). At subduction zones one plate (the subducting or lower plate) sinks (subducts) below the other plate (overriding plate or upper plate) into the mantle. The subducting plate is an oceanic plate, whilst the overriding plate can be either oceanic or continental (Fig. 1A–B). At collision zones, both plates are continent

FAQs

What are convergent plate margins and how are they classified?

Convergent plate margins occur when two tectonic plates meet, forming either subduction zones or collision zones. Subduction involves an oceanic plate plunging beneath another plate, while collision involves continental-continental or continent–magmatic arc interactions.

Which recent advances does the paper highlight for subduction-zone understanding?

It emphasizes global comparability of plate and plate-boundary velocities, that subducted slabs are orders of magnitude stronger than ambient upper mantle, the influence of lateral slab edges and slab tearing, and mantle-tomography evidence that slabs can penetrate into the lower mantle.

What major geodynamic questions remain unresolved at convergent margins?

Open problems include how subduction zones initiate and when plate tectonics began, the mechanisms controlling orogenesis such as Andean mountain building, and how subduction partitions into trench and plate components. It also notes challenges in improving seismic imaging resolution and constraining 3-D anisotropic mantle flow structures.

Oct 26, 2026

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