Back-arc basin
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A back-arc basin is a type of geologic basin, found at some convergent plate boundaries. Presently all back-arc basins are submarine features associated with island arcs and subduction zones, with man
Cross-section sketch showing the development of a back-arc basin by rifting the arc longitudinally. The rift matures to the point of seafloor spreading, allowing a new magmatic arc to form on the trenchward side of the basin (to the right in this image) and stranding a remnant arc on the far side of the basin (to the left in this image).
The active back-arc basins of the world
Plate tectonics
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Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that Earth's lithosphere comprises a number of large tectonic plates, which have been slowly moving since 3–4 billion years ago. The model builds on the concep
Plate motion based on Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data from NASA JPL Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. Each red dot is a measuring point and vectors show direction and magnitude of motion.
Alfred Wegener in Greenland in the winter of 1912–13