( ( ( Geophysicists and ) geologists ) ( ( ( studied ( ( the nature ) ( of ( ( ( the crust ) and ) ( upper mantle ) ) ) ) ) ( ( ( in and ) under ) ( the ( ( continents and ) oceans ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Geophysicists) (CC and) (NNS geologists)) (VP (VBD studied) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN nature)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN crust)) (CC and) (NP (JJ upper) (NN mantle))))) (PP (IN in) (CC and) (IN under) (NP (DT the) (NNS continents) (CC and) (NNS oceans)))) (. .)))
Geophysicists and geologists studied the nature of the crust and upper mantle in and under the continents and oceans.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN creation) (CC and) (NN destruction)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ oceanic) (NN crust)))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (DT the) (NN reason) (NN continents) (NN move))) (. .)))