Which layer of Earth is most similar in thickness to that of the atmosphere? View Available Hint(s) outer core mantle core inner core crust
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The Deep Dive
The crust is the layer of Earth most similar in thickness to that of the atmosphere. While the atmosphere varies in thickness depending on altitude, the Earth's crust ranges from about 5 to 70 kilometers thick, which is quite comparable to the atmospheric layer that commonly reaches around 10 kilometers before gradually fading into space. When thinking of the atmosphere and crust together, imagine the crust as a thin skin on a giant fruit. Just like a grapefruit skin is relatively thin compared to the massive fruit inside, the crust is thin when compared to the depths of the mantle and core beneath it!