What happens at a destructive plate boundary?

At a destructive plate boundary, one tectonic plate is forced beneath another in a process known as subduction. This occurs when a denser oceanic plate collides with a less dense continental plate or another oceanic plate. As the denser plate sinks into the mantle, it begins to melt due to the high temperatures and pressures found at these depths. The material that melts can contribute to volcanic activity as magma rises towards the surface, leading to the formation of volcanoes and often creating earthquake activity.

This process is a crucial part of the recycling of the Earth's crust and plays a significant role in geological phenomena such as mountain building and earthquake generation. The interaction between the descending and overriding plates results in various geological features and events, including deep ocean trenches and volcanic arcs.