Question

Study this image.

The Asthenosphere is being divided by the Lithosphere on the left of the diagram. Oceanic crust is above the Lithosphere and continues until it reaches the Continental crust on the right. The Lithosphere layer on the right is moving left toward the Lithosphere layer on the left that is moving right and down. Two volcanoes are above the area where the lithosphere layers meet.

Which statement correctly explains what is happening?

Oceanic and continental plates are colliding.
Oceanic and continental plates are shifting past each other.
Two continental plates are forming a large mountain.
Two oceanic plates are creating several island chains.

Answer 1

The Oceanic and continental plates are colliding at a subduction zone, where the oceanic plate is being subducted beneath the continental plate, leading to volcanic activity.

Based on the image description provided, two lithosphere layers are interacting along their boundaries, with one moving left and the other moving right and down.

This indicates that the lithospheric plates involved are converging. Specifically, volcanic activity above the meeting point suggests a subduction zone, where one plate, typically the oceanic lithosphere, is subducted beneath another plate.

Since the oceanic crust is mentioned to be above the lithosphere on one side, and it gives way to continental crust on the other, this typically results in oceanic-continental convergence.

The oceanic plate is forced below the continental plate and melts into the asthenosphere, leading to volcanic activity.

This scenario matches the process of an oceanic and continental plate colliding, forming a subduction zone, which is often marked by ocean trenches and volcanic arcs.