Which process causes explosive volcanism near subduction zones where oceanic lithosphere descends?

💡 Explanation

When oceanic lithosphere subducts, it carries water into the mantle, causing hydration-induced melting. This reduces the mantle's melting point, leading to magma generation that is often gas-rich and viscous, resulting in explosive eruptions. Therefore hydration is the answer, rather than decompression, crystallization, or assimilation, which operate in different tectonic settings.

• Which climatic effect results when persistent stationary upper-level systems disrupt Hadley cell circulation?
• Which climate outcome in coastal regions results most directly from the ocean's thermal buffering effect?
• Which effect results when upper-level divergence aloft reinforces surface low pressure within a Hadley cell?
• Which geographic phenomenon is caused when fault creep accumulates along a transform boundary?
• Which global effect primarily results when the Hadley cell circulation weakens in the tropics?
• Which process determines natural eutrophication in lake ecosystems within flat floodplains?