Which is thicker, oceanic or continental crust?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the relative thickness of oceanic crust compared to continental crust, which are both different types of Earth's crust. The high-level approach to answer this would involve explaining the geological differences between the two types of crust and providing details on their respective thicknesses.
Answer
The continental crust is thicker.
The final answer is that the continental crust is thicker.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that the continental crust is thicker.
More Information
Continental crust typically ranges from 30 to 50 km in thickness, whereas oceanic crust ranges from 5 to 10 km in thickness.
Tips
It's crucial not to confuse thickness with density. While the continental crust is thicker, it is also less dense than the oceanic crust.
Sources
- Thin crust or thick? Yale researchers try to solve the continental question - Yale News - news.yale.edu
- Oceanic Crust and Continental Crust: The Difference - Geology In - geologyin.com
- Crust - National Geographic Society - nationalgeographic.org