The hypsographic curve shows the distribution of the earth’s solid surface at elevations above and below the sea- level. In this diagram areas are repre­sented by lengths along a horizontal line, and heights and depths, measured from sea-level, are represented by vertical distances from this line.

Thus, we obtain a curve. From this diagram it is evident that 71% of the earth’s solid surface is to be found beneath the oceans. The mean elevation of the continents above the sea-level is 840 meters, and the mean depth of the oceans is 3865 meters.

This curve shows the percentage of the earth’s total area, land area, and ocean area at depths and elevations indicated along the left margin of the figure.