Geologically speaking, you are describing a subduction.
See the related Wikipedia link listed below for more information:
A convergent boundary forms where two tectonic plates move toward each other. This interaction can result in one plate being forced beneath the other in a process known as subduction, often leading to the formation of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic activity. Convergent boundaries are typically found at the edges of continental and oceanic plates, where they can create significant geological features and events.
Earthquakes and volcanoes typically occur along continental and oceanic boundaries due to the movement of tectonic plates. These boundaries can be convergent, divergent, or transform, where plates interact, leading to stress accumulation and eventual release as earthquakes. Additionally, convergent boundaries often involve subduction, where one plate is forced beneath another, causing magma to rise and resulting in volcanic activity. The dynamic nature of these plate interactions creates the ideal conditions for both seismic and volcanic events.
The ocean floor collides with a crustal plate during tectonic processes at convergent boundaries, where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental or another oceanic plate. This collision can lead to the formation of deep ocean trenches and volcanic arcs. The movement is driven by the Earth's mantle dynamics, causing the denser oceanic crust to be forced down into the mantle. This process is a key element in the recycling of Earth's materials and can trigger geological events like earthquakes.
For a variety of reasons, the majority of the earth's most violent earthquakes and volcanoes occur in these areas
Plate movement can lead to several geologic processes, including the formation of mountains through continental collision, volcanic activity at divergent and convergent boundaries, and earthquakes along fault lines where plates slide past each other. Additionally, the movement of tectonic plates can create oceanic trenches and mid-ocean ridges. These processes continually reshape the Earth's surface, influencing landscapes and ecosystems.
Geological processes at convergent boundaries vary due to the different types of tectonic plates involved (continental-oceanic, continental-continental, or oceanic-oceanic) and their respective densities, compositions, and interactions. These variations lead to different outcomes such as subduction, mountain building, volcanic activity, and seismic events. The specific geological features and processes at each convergent boundary are influenced by the nature of the plates and the direction of their movements.
Earthquakes
For a variety of reasons, the majority of the earth's most violent earthquakes and volcanoes occur in these areas
The ring of fire is created by convergent plate boundaries, where tectonic plates collide and one is forced beneath the other in a process known as subduction. This leads to volcanic activity and seismic events around the Pacific Ocean.
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust. All that water weight compresses the heck out of the material in the plate and also the oceanic crust contains larger percentages of denser elements such as magnesium and iron than the continental crust which also contributes to it's higher density. This sets the conditions for what happens. The more dense oceanic crust will "dive under" continental crust because it is more dense, and all because of the difference in densities.
There are three main types of plate boundaries: divergent boundaries (plates move apart), convergent boundaries (plates move towards each other), and transform boundaries (plates slide past each other). Each boundary type can result in different geologic features and events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building.
Plate movement can lead to several geologic processes, including the formation of mountains through continental collision, volcanic activity at divergent and convergent boundaries, and earthquakes along fault lines where plates slide past each other. Additionally, the movement of tectonic plates can create oceanic trenches and mid-ocean ridges. These processes continually reshape the Earth's surface, influencing landscapes and ecosystems.
Plate boundaries are associated with geological events such as earthquakes and creation of topographic features like the mountains, volcanoes, mid-ocean ridges, and oceanic trenches.
The oceanic plate is made of denser (and thinner) rock than the continental crust, so the oceanic plate gets subducted (pushed underneath) where it descends and gets melted by geothermal heat.
When plates move together along a plate boundary, it is known as a convergent boundary. At convergent boundaries, one plate is typically forced beneath the other in a process called subduction, leading to the formation of mountain ranges, deep ocean trenches, and volcanic activity. These interactions are driven by the Earth's tectonic forces and can result in significant geological events such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust due to its higher levels of iron and magnesium, causing it to sink below the continental crust in subduction zones. The cooler, denser oceanic plate is pulled down by gravity into the mantle, initiating the process of subduction. This movement also generates volcanic activity and seismic events along the subduction zone.
The Ring of Fire is formed by the subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental plates or other oceanic plates. This movement creates volcanic activity and seismic events around the Pacific Ocean.