Why Earth Has Two Levels | Hypsometric Curve

Earth’s outer shell is made of two materials whose different densities and thicknesses give rise to two distinct “levels” on the planet’s surface.

LEARN MORE
**************
To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:
- Hypsometric Curve: Basically, a chart that shows the proportions of surface area at every elevation on a planet.
- Crust: Earth's outermost layer, made out of two distinct materials – oceanic crust (which is denser) and continental crust (which is less dense).
- Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of Earth, including the crust and the hard, un-bending part of the upper mantle.
- Subduction: The process of an ocean plate crashing into another plate and getting forced to dive down into Earth's mantle.
- Isostasy: Describes the way earth's crust sort of floats in the underlying mantle. Continental crust is less dense and thicker, and floats higher than the oceanic crust, which is denser and thinner. Geologists talk about things like "isostatic rebound," which is what happens after an ice age, when the ice melts off a continent and the continent lifts up, like a floating raft in a pool after someone gets off (though continents rise more slowly).

CREDITS
*********
Script Writer: Emily Elert
Script Editor: Alex Reich
Video Illustrator: Ever Salazar
Video Director: Emily Elert
Video Narrator: Emily Elert
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Kate Yoshida, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC

SUPPORT MINUTEEARTH
**************************
If you like what we do, you can help us!:
- Share this video with your friends and family
- Leave us a comment (we read them!)

OUR LINKS
************

REFERENCES
**************
Albarede, F. (2009) Volatile accretion history of the terrestrial planets and dynamic implications. Nature, Vol 461.

Calogero, Meredith. Personal Communication, 2018.

Eakins, B.W. and G.F. Sharman. Hypsographic Curve of Earth's Surface from ETOPO1, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO, 2012

Hawkesworth, C. J. & Kemp, A. I. S. (2006) Evolution of the continental crust. Nature, Vol 443.

Rosenblatt, P.C , & Thouvenot, P.E. (1994). Comparative hypsometric analysis of Earth and Venus. Geophysics Research Letters, Vol 21, pp 465-468.

Stern, R.J., Gerya, T, & Tackley, P.J. (2018) Stagnant lid tectonics: Perspectives from silicate planets, dwarf planets, large moons, and large asteroids. Geoscience Frontiers, 9.

[midnightsun]

As a kid I was a crazy space nerd. Since I began studying geosciences however, it became more and more clear, that the most interesting celestial body is not visible when you look up the night sky, but rather look down to your feet.

The Earth is so much more complex and interesting than any other planet I know, it is mind boggling. I still like space and everything about it, but I came to be that Earth is my favorite planetary body by FAR.

[empty_rivers]

For anybody curious, this is known as a bimodal distribution.

[ethanotoroculus]

I love how earth blushes when you mention its multiple "humps."
Thanks for the wonderful video as always!

[PowahSlapEntertainmint]

You mean there's a level 2? I thought this level was hard enough!

[guillermojrboy]

Looks like puns are less dense in this video

[datra]

I have a PhD in Geology and taught university Geosciences for 28 years. Your video is great! I would welcome it in my classroom. Thanks.

[Kowzorz]

The drawings in this one were particularly adorable!

[angrybirds]

The faces on those rocks had me dying haahah

[odw]

The expressive/emotional illustrations in these videos are awesome.

[Dowent]

Good idea to add Hypsometric Curve to the title, makes it much easier to find. Also, great description, always adds a bit extra info on the subject :) .

[leinadlink]

They taught me this at school years ago... Where was this video when I needed it?

[saltpepper]

Lovely way of explaining topics in such simple terms! Keep up the great work!

[professional.commentator]

I don't remember learning this in Earth Science class... which is why I love you guys for teaching the stuff not taught in schools! ;)

[PaulPaulPaulson]

Do we know why those two types of crust exist and how they formed?

[AFKavya]

Wow ...I had never seen such spectaculous explanation. ...simply awesome and I am deeply impressed ....

[SANtyJAV]

1:35
That's so sad, you can clearly see on their faces how traumatic it was

[FriendlyMarmot]

I've been wondering about this a lot lately, thank you!!

I just started thinking one day, how weird is it that we have both huge areas of deep, open ocean and huge areas of low-lying, relatively-flat land masses above the waterline, all bunched together? How weird is it that we have this idea of continents, as opposed to just randomly scattered land and water at all kinds of elevations?

[somepath]

"There's nothing normal about Earth"
I love this😍

[roseca]

Today, while planning our day with no technology, my nine y/o said, "what will I do without minute earth". Thank you all! 🙏🏼❤

[drakefang]

I really like that graphing technique. Made me warm inside for some reason.