angle of subduction

as discussed in section 3-17, the oceanic lithosphere bends in a continuous mann

er as it is subducted at an ocean trench. the gravitational body force on the de
scending lithosphere is directed vertically downward. we might expect that under
this body force the lithosphere would bend through 90 and descend vertically do
wnward into the mantle. however, observations indicate that the oceanic lithosph
ere straightens out after subduction and descends at a finite angle of dip 0. (t
his was discussed in section 1-4 and illustrated in figure 1-9). the approximate
dip angles associated with subduction at several ocean trenches are given in ta
ble 6-3.