answersLogoWhite

0

It's due to the mountain building process where one plate subducts under another, uplifting the lighter, less dense plate. Before melting of the subducting crust occurs, there are actually two plates, one stacked above the other.

User Avatar

Wiki User

17y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences
Related Questions

Is the earth's crust thicker under the mountains or under the ocean?

mountains


Is the earth crust thicker under the continent or the ocean?

Earth's crust is far thicker under the continents.


Is this true or false the crust is the thinnest under high mountains?

False. The crust is actually thinnest under ocean basins due to the presence of dense oceanic crust. Under high mountains, the crust tends to be thicker due to the compression and folding of rock layers.


How wide is the crust?

The Earth's crust can vary in thickness, but on average it is about 5-70 kilometers (3-44 miles) thick. However, it can be much thicker under mountain ranges and thinner under the ocean floor.


Is the earth's crust thicker under the ocean?

Oceanic crust is thinner and denser than continental crust.


The layer of the earths crust that is not covered by ocean water is called what?

continental crust


What is the name of the crust not under the ocean?

The crust not under the ocean is called continental crust. It is thicker and less dense compared to oceanic crust and forms the landmasses on Earth's surface.


Why the oceans floor is considered part of Earth's crust?

earths crust includes ocean floors and


Why is the earth's crust thicker on land?

The Earth's crust is thicker on land compared to the ocean because of the presence of continental crust, which is generally thicker and less dense than oceanic crust. Continental crust is composed of less dense rocks like granite and sedimentary rocks, which contribute to its overall thickness.


Why the crust is thinner than the ocean floor?

The Earth's crust is thinner than the ocean floor because the oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges where heat from the mantle creates new crust through volcanic activity. This process creates younger, hotter, and thinner crust in the ocean compared to the older and thicker continental crust.


What layer of the Earth's crust that is not covered by ocean water is called the crust?

The part of the Earth's crust that is not covered by ocean water is called the continental crust. It is thicker and less dense than the oceanic crust and primarily makes up the continents.


Is the crust thicker under the sea or a mountain range?

The crust is generally thicker under a mountain range compared to under the sea. This is because mountain ranges are formed by the collision of tectonic plates, which can result in the crust being pushed up and folded, leading to its thickening. In contrast, the crust under the ocean is thinner due to the process of seafloor spreading where new crust is constantly being created at mid-ocean ridges.