Paul RizzoJul 2, 2023
Christopher Miller

I had no idea that gravity on earth fluctuated that much.

The Indian Ocean has low density matter beneath it that causes it to be 100m lower than if it were average gravity at sea level.

Giant ‘Gravity Hole’ in the Ocean May Be the Ghost of an Ancient Sea:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/giant-gravity-hole-in-the-ocean-may-be-the-ghost-of-an-ancient-sea1/

#News #Newstodon #NewsTooter #Science #GravityHole

Giant ‘Gravity Hole’ in the Ocean May Be the Ghost of an Ancient Sea

A vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is a staggering 100 meters lower than the global average sea level because of a major dip in Earth’s gravity. Scientists now think they know the cause

Scientific American
Jul 2, 2023 at 9:59amWeb
Show threadExandraJul 2, 2023
@C_Miller that is an unbelievable difference. I wonder why low gravity would make it shallower, rather than deeper? Think of the tides!?
Show threadChristopher MillerJul 2, 2023

@Alexbbrown

Yeah does strike me as a little odd.

At the risk of sounding like a comical layman in this area... ...maybe high gravity pulls more water towards it, causing the ocean to bulge in these areas. This lowering the water level at low gravity areas.

Show threadMeercat ✅ 
Jul 2, 2023
@Alexbbrown @C_Miller I guess it’s because areas with higher gravity pull more sea water, which leaves areas with lower gravity with less water. Makes sense?
Show threadAndresJul 2, 2023
@C_Miller I love how this image of earth looks like something my kindergartener rolled together out of playdoh 😂
Show threadRobert SzaszJul 2, 2023

@C_Miller I think acceleration due to gravity at the elipsoid is about 980 gal (cm/sec²)

Anomalies are on the order ±50 milligal so about 0.005%?

Show threadMeercat ✅ 
Jul 2, 2023
@C_Miller 100m? That’s a lot!!
Show threadChristopher MillerJul 2, 2023

@meercat0
I know, right!

But the way they've typed it out (100 metres) means that it's unlikely to be a typo (e.g. 100 mm).