island arcs

Island arcs are curved chains of islands that typically form at tectonic plate boundaries, primarily where an oceanic plate slides beneath another oceanic plate, a process known as subduction. This subduction creates volcanic activity, leading to the rise of volcanic islands. The resulting islands often have a distinct arc shape, arising from the way the tectonic plates interact beneath the ocean. The Japanese Archipelago and the Aleutian Islands of Alaska are examples of island arcs. These regions can be geologically active, with associated earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, due to the dynamic nature of the Earth's crust.