What is the main difference between oceanic crust and continental crust?

What is the main difference between oceanic crust and continental crust?

It is either continental or oceanic. Continental crust is typically 30-50 km thick, whilst oceanic crust is only 5-10 km thick. Oceanic crust is denser, can be subducted and is constantly being destroyed and replaced at plate boundaries.

Why is continental crust higher than oceanic crust?

Layers that are less dense, such as the crust, float on layers that are denser, such as the mantle. Both oceanic crust and continental crust are less dense than the mantle, but oceanic crust is denser than continental crust. This is partly why the continents are at a higher elevation than the ocean floor.

What are the 3 main differences between the continental and oceanic crusts?

The oceanic crust is made up of basalt while the continental crust is made up of granite.

What is the difference between oceanic crust and continental crust as far as age goes?

It is due to the process of subduction; oceanic crust tends to get colder and denser with age as it spreads off the mid-ocean ridges. It gets so dense, that it sinks in the upper mantle (subduction). As the continental crust is lighter than the oceanic crust, the continental crust cannot subduct.

What are the differences between continental and oceanic plates?

Continental plates are much thicker that Oceanic plates. At the convergent boundaries the continental plates are pushed upward and gain thickness. The rocks and geological layers are much older on continental plates than in the oceanic plates. The Continental plates are much less dense than the Oceanic plates.

What is the difference between continental and oceanic plates?

Oceanic plates are much thinner than the continental plates. At the convergent boundaries the continental plates are pushed upward and gain thickness. The rocks and geological layers are much older on continental plates than in the oceanic plates. The Continental plates are much less dense than the Oceanic plates.

How do the differences between oceanic and continental crust lead to the presence of ocean basins and continents?

Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust therefore the continental crust sits above the oceanic crust, making continents. The more dense oceanic crust is below the continental crust and forms ocean basins.

What are the differences between continental crust and oceanic crust in terms of molecular density thickness age of oldest known crust and features or parts?

Continental crust is typically 40 km (25 miles) thick, while oceanic crust is much thinner, averaging about 6 km (4 miles) in thickness. The less-dense continental crust has greater buoyancy, causing it to float much higher in the mantle.

How do the differences between continental and oceanic crust affect the way plates interact?

The convergent boundaries between ocean and continental plates create subduction zones. The oceanic plate is pushed under the continental plate and melted. The rocks and geological layers are much older on continental plates than in the oceanic plates. The Continental plates are much less dense than the Oceanic plates.

What are the main differences between oceanic and continental lithosphere?

Oceanic lithosphere is typically about 50-100 km thick (but beneath the mid-ocean ridges is no thicker than the crust). The continental lithosphere is thicker (about 150 km). It consists of about 50 km of crust and 100 km or more of the uppermost mantle.

What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?

In terms of geography, seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and ocean meet. Typically, seas are partially enclosed by land. Seas are found on the margins of the ocean and are partially enclosed by land. Seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and ocean meet.