Drivers of Subduction: Slab-Pull & Ridge-Push
Plate Tectonics is the process of creating new crust at mid-ocean ridges and recycling older, denser crust back into the interior at subduction zones. Subduction is driven by two main mechanical processes: slab-pull and ridge-push. RIDGE PUSH High ridges are produced by the positive buoyancy of material in regions of localized heating. Ridge-push utilizes the potential energy of the height of these ridges to force slabs to subduct. SLAB-PULL Slab-pull depends on the negative buoyancy of the cold subducting slab to pull itself deeper into…