volcanic arc

noun

1. a curving chain of active volcanoes formed above a subduction zone and adjacent to a convergent plate boundary.

volcanic arc

/ vŏl-kăn′ĭk,vôl- /

1. A curved chain of volcanoes in the overriding tectonic plate of a subduction zone. Volcanic arcs form as the result of rising magma formed by the melting of the downgoing plate. They are curved because of the curvature of the Earth. The Andes mountains form a volcanic arc.
2. See also island arc

Example Sentences

Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc.

From Seattle Times

The seamount is part of the Mariana Volcanic Arc, which is a chain of over 60 active volcanoes stretching over 600 miles west of and parallel to the Mariana Trench, the world’s deepest point.

From Seattle Times

Newberry Volcano is the largest volcano in the Cascades volcanic arc and covers about 1,200 square miles.

From Washington Post

Most of the Lesser Antilles islands are part of a long volcanic arc in the Eastern Caribbean.

From BBC

This rock was laid down by rivers, lakes and streams east of a volcanic arc that was depositing ash and fine-grained particles into the area.

From Scientific American