Chapter 2 Critical Thinking

2.) Why are most oceanic trenches found in the Pacific Ocean?-->An oceanic trench is a linear depression of the sea floor caused by the subduction of one plate under another. These trenches are associated with earthquakes and volcanoes. They are generally parallel to a volcanic island arc. Examples include are the Mariana Islands which are located in the Pacific Ocean.

Oceanic trenches typically extend 3 to 4 km below the level of the surrounding oceanic floor. The deepest ocean depth to be sounded is in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench at a depth of 10,911 m (35,798 ft) below sea level.