Slab pull is a geophysical process that occurs when a tectonic plate sinks into the mantle at a subduction zone, pulling the rest of the plate along with it. This mechanism is a significant driving force behind plate tectonics, as the weight of the subducting slab exerts a downward pull on the leading edge of the plate, contributing to the movement of tectonic plates and influencing mantle convection patterns. Understanding slab pull helps explain how tectonic forces operate and shapes Earth's surface features.
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