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Wadati-Benioff zone
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Cross-sectional diagram of a subduction zone showing oceanic crust moving beneath continental crust, with features labeled including transform fault, oceanic ridge, trench, accretionary wedge, rising magma, and the Benioff-Wadati zone.
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Wadati-Benioff zone

seismic belt
Also known as: Benioff-Wadati zone
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Quick Summary

Cross-sectional diagram of a subduction zone showing oceanic crust moving beneath continental crust, with features labeled including transform fault, oceanic ridge, trench, accretionary wedge, rising magma, and the Benioff-Wadati zone.
subducting tectonic plate A subducting plate's path (called the Benioff-Wadati [or Wadati-Benioff] zone) is defined by numerous earthquakes along a plane that is typically inclined between 30° and 60° into the mantle.

A Wadati-Benioff zone, also known as a Benioff zone, is a seismically active area within a subduction zone. These zones are characterized by earthquakes that occur at increasing depths as they dip into the Earth, indicating the presence of a subducting tectonic plate.12

Seismic belts are narrow geographic zones on Earth's surface where most earthquake activity is concentrated. These belts are typically found along the edges of tectonic plates where they interact. Features commonly associated with seismic belts include island arcs, mountain ranges, volcanic activity, deep ocean trenches, and oceanic ridges. The two primary seismic belts are the Circum-Pacific Belt and the Alpide Belt. Deeper-focus earthquakes often occur in patterns called Benioff zones, which are typically found along island arcs and are usually associated with deep ocean trenches.32

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Benioff zone
  2. seismic belt
  3. earthquake - Shallow , intermediate, and deep foci

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