Coastal & Marine Geology InfoBank

USGS CMG InfoBank: Depths of the Oceans


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Comment: 03:54 - 04:27 (00:33)

Source: Annenberg/CPB Resources - Earth Revealed - 4. The Sea Floor

Keywords: crust, granite, basalt, depth

Our transcription: If the surface of Earth were completely level, an ocean would cover the entire planet, but the surface is made up of two contrasting materials.

Light granitic rock floats high forming the world's continents.

The heavier basaltic rock tends to sink forming the world's deep ocean basins.

The oceans average between three and four kilometers deep; however, compared to the total diameter of Earth, the oceans are but a patchy film of liquid covering the surface.

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Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices
U.S. Department of the Interior \| U.S. Geological Survey URL: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/programs/html/school/moviepage/04.01.05.html Page Contact: InfoBank staff Page Last Modified: Fri Sep 18 02:35:51 PDT 2009 (wcs)