volcanic arc

American  

noun

1. a curving chain of active volcanoes formed above a subduction zone and adjacent to a convergent plate boundary.

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volcanic arc Scientific  

/ vŏl-kăn′ĭk,vôl- /

1. A curved chain of volcanoes in the overriding tectonic plate of a subduction zone. Volcanic arcs form as the result of rising magma formed by the melting of the downgoing plate. They are curved because of the curvature of the Earth. The Andes mountains form a volcanic arc.

2. See also island arc

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Example Sentences

The full research paper, 'A new tektite strewn field in Australia ejected from a volcanic arc impact crater 11 Myr ago', is published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

From Science Daily

Santorini lies on the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of islands created by volcanoes.

From BBC

Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of islands created by volcanoes - but the last major eruption was in the 1950s.

From BBC

Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc but the last major eruption was in 1950.

From BBC

Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc.

From Seattle Times