Final answer:
Correct option is a .The highest percentage of the Earth's crustal surface is found at the elevation interval of 0-500 meters. This includes the extensive areas of the ocean basins and low-lying land regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to determine which elevation interval contains the highest percentage of the Earth's crustal surface. The options given are a) 0-500 meters, b) 500-1,000 meters, c) 1,000-2,000 meters, and d) 2,000 meters and above. From available geographical data, we know that the majority of the Earth's land surface is concentrated at lower elevations, particularly because expansive areas such as plains and plateaus, along with continental shelves, fall within these elevations.
Considering that the average thickness of the crust is 35 kilometers on land, it might seem counterintuitive, but because Earth’s surface is mostly covered by oceans, and because continental shelves are generally not very deep, a significant portion of the Earth's surface area lies within the first few hundred meters above sea level. Therefore, the correct option is a) 0-500 meters, which includes a vast majority of the ocean floor as well as low-lying coastal and inland areas around the world.
Geographical and geological studies support this, emphasizing that the largest proportion of Earth's surface is found within this lower elevation interval, predominantly due to the extensive areas of the ocean basins which are relatively shallow compared to the depths of the deep ocean trenches and the heights of the major mountain ranges.