Subduction is a dynamic process that drives and maintains plate tectonics, recycling the lithosphere and shaping Earth’s long-term evolution. Subduction zones are responsible for a large proportion of Earth’s volcanism and seismicity, where complex interactions between the subducting slab and the overriding plate occur. Observations from geophysics, geology, and geodesy have revealed intricate slab geometries and mantle flow patterns, linking subduction dynamics directly to surface deformation and hazards. Geochemical studies of volcanic arcs provide further insights into the chemical and thermal processes at play at the slab surface and within the mantle wedge, underscoring subduction's uniqueness among terrestrial planets and its implications for planetary evolution and habitability.
Recent advances in numerical and laboratory modeling have enhanced our understanding of subduction zone processes. However, challenges remain in achieving a consistent picture of the controlling parameters of subduction dynamics. Variations in methodologies, model setups, and input assumptions often lead to contrasting conclusions across geochemical, geodetic, tectonic, and modelling studies.
This session focuses on the dynamics of subduction zones from processes occurring at the Earth’s surface to interactions deep within the mantle, and on the physical mechanisms that control deformation and magmatism in the overriding plate. Topics include, but are not limited to: subduction geometry, kinematics, and dynamics; mineralogical processes in subduction; dynamics, generation and migration of fluids and melts; controls on volcanic arcs; subduction-induced seismicity; role of sediments and volatiles; influence of subducting seamounts, LIPs and ridges; links between surface tectonics, slab dynamics and mantle flow; slab delamination and break-off; imaging subduction processes; and the role of subduction dynamics in the supercontinent cycle.
We invite contributions from across disciplines — including geodynamics, geophysics, geochemistry, petrology, volcanology and seismology — to discuss subduction dynamics at all scales from the surface to the lower mantle, in both present-day and ancient natural laboratories. We particularly encourage integrative studies that bridge observations, models and scales. While the session is Earth-focused, we also welcome contributions that place subduction in a broader planetary perspective.
Daniel Douglas