Vanuatu subduction zone

Vanuatu subduction zone
New Hebrides subduction zone
Map
Approximate surface projection on Pacific Ocean of some tectonic features near Vanuatu subduction zone (center map). The New Britain subduction zone to the north is also shown. Key:
  Up to 70 km (43 mi) deep shallow-focus earthquakes
  70–300 km (43–186 mi) deep shallow-focus earthquakes
  More than 300 km (190 mi) deep shallow-focus earthquakes
  (blue) Active subduction trenches
  (light blue) Inactive trenches
  (brown) Selected oceanic floor ridges
  (yellow) Spreading centers or rifts
Volcanoes and tectonic plate boundaries where they are transform faults are not shown. Mouse over shows feature names.
EtymologyVanuatu
Tectonics
PlateAustralian, New Hebrides
StatusActive
EarthquakesUp to Mw8.2[1]
AgeMiocene-current

The Vanuatu subduction zone (previously called New Hebrides subduction zone) is currently one of the most active subduction zones on Earth, producing great earthquakes (magnitude 8.0 or greater), with potential for tsunami hazard to all coastlines of the Pacific Ocean.[2][3] There are active volcanoes associated with arc volcanism.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ioualalen2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Roger et al. 2023, Section:Abstract
  3. ^ Roger et al. 2023, Section:2 Seismotectonic context