Trench suction refers to the process in which the weight of the descending tectonic plate in a subduction zone generates a pulling force that helps draw the plate into the mantle. This phenomenon is crucial for understanding how plates interact at convergent boundaries and plays a significant role in the dynamics of plate tectonics. The trench suction mechanism influences geological activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, as the subduction process reshapes the Earth’s crust.
congrats on reading the definition of trench suction. now let's actually learn it.