Oceanic lithosphere sinks beneath continental lithosphere at convergent boundaries primarily due to its higher density compared to continental lithosphere. As oceanic plates are denser and thinner, they are more susceptible to subduction when they collide with less dense, thicker continental plates. This process leads to the formation of deep ocean trenches and volcanic arcs, as the subducting oceanic plate melts and interacts with the overlying continental crust. Additionally, the cooler and older oceanic lithosphere is more likely to subduct than the younger, hotter continental lithosphere.
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