CNN —There is a “gravity hole” in the Indian Ocean — a spot where Earth’s gravitational pull is weaker, its mass is lower than normal, and the sea level dips by over 328 feet (100 meters). The “gravity hole” in the Indian Ocean — officially called the Indian Ocean geoid low — is the lowest point in that geoid and its biggest gravitational anomaly, forming a circular depression that starts just off India’s southern tip and covers about 1.2 million square miles (3 million square kilometers). In six of the scenarios, a geoid low similar to the one in the Indian Ocean formed. The future of the geoid lowThe geoid low formed around 20 million years ago, according to the team’s calculation. Past research only simulated the descent of cold material across the mantle, rather than including hot rising mantle plumes as well.

---

Persons: ”, Attreyee Ghosh, Ghosh, Felix Andries Vening Meinesz, hasn’t, ” Ghosh, ” Huw Davies, ” Davies, Alessandro Forte, Forte Organizations: CNN, Indian Institute of Science, Research, Earth Sciences, of Earth, Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, University of Florida Locations: Bengaluru, India, Dutch, Asia, Gainesville, Réunion, Africa, Eurasia