Explain why the two elevations, around 0.5 kilometers above and 4.5 kilometers below sea level, are the most common elevations on Earth

What will be an ideal response?


The two common elevations represent the two types of crust on Earth. Continental crust underlies most of the area at 0.5 km above sea level and oceanic crust underlies the area at 4.5 km below sea level. Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust and so it sits up higher in the mantle, averaging 0.5 km above. Oceanic crust is more dense and thinner than continental crust, so it sits lower in the mantle, averaging 4.5 km below sea level.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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