Benioff Zone
Volcano Learning zone > Volcano Glossary
A Benioff zone is a descending zone of earthquakes which follows the path of a descending slab of oceanic crust beneath a subduction zone. As the slab descends earthquake foci become deeper as the slab moves downwards. Earthquakes have been detected at a depth of 700km. Named after Hugo Benioff a seismologist from California.