Subduction drives plate tectonics, forms continents, and transports surface material to the deep Earth. Therefore, it is arguably the most important geodynamical and geochemical phenomenon on Earth. Seismological data show a fascinating range in shapes of subducting slabs with structures interpreted as resulting from roll-over, buckling, underplating, dripping, draping or avalanching through the base of the upper mantle. Arc volcanism illustrates the complexity of geochemical and petrological phenomena associated with subduction. Surface topography provides insight in the orogenic processes related to subduction and continental collision. Numerical and laboratory modelling studies have successfully reproduced many of these shapes and processes, but with different technical approaches, set-ups, inputs and material properties, and a consistent picture has so far not emerged.

In this session, we aim to follow subducting lithosphere on their journey from the surface down into the Earth's mantle. Examples of questions we seek to address are: How do near-surface processes, such as erosion and accretionary wedge tectonics, influence dynamics of slabs in the mantle? What is the importance of subducting seamounts, LIPs, and ridges? What is the role of phase transitions and the migration of fluids and melts? Which are the controlling parameters for slab dip angle and how does flat slab subduction occur? What is the fate of subducted crust, sediments and volatiles? What is the influence of the mantle wedge and the back-arc on slab dynamics? How does slab break-off occur? How are mantle wedge geodynamics and geochemistry linked? How does subduction initiate? What is the role of subduction initiation magmatism in producing forearc oceanic crust in modern and ancient subduction zone settings?

With this session we aim to further our knowledge about subduction processes by combining insights from many different disciplines. Therefore, we invite contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including and certainly not limited to geodynamics, modelling, geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology and seismology, to discuss subduction zone dynamics at all scales from the surface to the lower mantle.

We are pleased to announce our invited presenters!
Diane Arcay (Geosciences Montpellier, France)
Luca Ferarri (UNAM, Mexico)
Muriel Gerbault (Geoazur, France)
Jeroen van Hunen (Durham University, UK)
Vlad Manea (Computational Geodynamics Laboratory, UNAM, Mexico)
Tomoaki Morishita (Japan)

(The fact that some presenters are also conveners occurs because of the merge of original sessions GD5.2 (Flat slab subduction) and TS6.5 (Ophiolites and subduction initiation) with this session GD5.1)