Wadati-Benioff Zone
A planar dipping zone of earthquake foci produced by the subduction of a cold, rigid oceanic lithospheric plate into the mantle.
Governing formula
Seismic Focal Depth down to ~670 km along dipping slab
SI unit
km (Focal Depth)
In depth
Earthquake foci trace the descending subducting slab down to ~670 km. Below 670 km, high temperatures and phase transitions prevent brittle faulting.
Examples in the real world
Deep-focus earthquakes tracing subducting Pacific plate slabs beneath the Japanese island arc.