Final answer:
A subduction zone is an area where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another into the Earth's mantle, resulting in geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two tectonic plates converge, one often dives beneath the other into the mantle in a process known as subduction.
At this location, known as a subduction zone, intense geological activity occurs, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation.
The descendent oceanic plate is pushed into high-pressure, high-temperature environments, leading to partial melting and the creation of magma which can result in volcanism closer to the coastline.
This dynamic process not only gives rise to volcanic arcs but also recycles the Earth's crustal material as it balances the creation of new crust at rift zones with the destruction of crust at subduction zones.