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Gravity Hole

All articles tagged with #gravity hole

Antarctica's Gravity Hole Deepens as Ice Sheets Expand Over Millions of Years
science5 days ago

Antarctica's Gravity Hole Deepens as Ice Sheets Expand Over Millions of Years

A new study maps Antarctica’s gravity hole and shows it has strengthened over tens of millions of years, coinciding with major climate shifts and glacier growth. Using global earthquake data to 'scan' the planet’s interior, researchers aim to understand how interior gravitational changes might influence ice-sheet dynamics and sea levels, though a direct causal link isn’t yet proven.

Antarctica’s Gravity Hole Grows Stronger, Hinting at Deep Mantle Shifts
earth-science10 days ago

Antarctica’s Gravity Hole Grows Stronger, Hinting at Deep Mantle Shifts

Scientists used earthquakes and geophysical data to reconstruct Earth’s interior and map a gravity hole beneath Antarctica that began weakening but has grown stronger over roughly 50–30 million years, driven by competing mantle flows (cold, sinking material beneath and hotter, rising material above). This amplified mass deficit alters the geoid and regional sea-level dynamics, offering clues about ice-sheet stability and climate-related sea-level changes, though the exact future impact remains uncertain.

Unraveling the Enigma of the Indian Ocean's Giant Gravity Hole
science-and-environment1 year ago

Unraveling the Enigma of the Indian Ocean's Giant Gravity Hole

Researchers have proposed that the mysterious 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean, causing a significant depression in sea level, is likely formed by magma plumes originating from deep within the Earth. Using computer simulations spanning 140 million years, they observed the movement of tectonic plates and magma within the mantle, finding that the anomaly emerged in six out of nineteen simulations. The 'gravity hole' is believed to have formed approximately 20 million years ago due to the disappearance of an ancient ocean as India's landmass shifted and collided with Asia. The future of this phenomenon remains uncertain, with some experts expressing intrigue and others raising concerns about the study's modeling strategy.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Ocean's "Gravity Hole"
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Ocean's "Gravity Hole"

Scientists have discovered a massive "gravity hole" in the Indian Ocean, a concentrated area where the effects of Earth's gravity are significantly lower than average. The phenomenon, known as the Indian Ocean geoid low (IOGL), is believed to have been caused by a massive mass in the Earth's mantle, known as the "African blob," which was formed by the remnants of the ancient Tethys Ocean. The IOGL took its current shape around 20 million years ago, and while simulations suggest this explanation, there may still be other factors involved.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's "Gravity Hole"
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's "Gravity Hole"

Scientists have been puzzled by the Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL), also known as the "gravity hole," which is a gravity anomaly in the Indian Ocean. New research suggests that the anomaly may be caused by plumes of magma in the Earth's mantle, which were stirred up when the Tethys plate slipped under the Earth's surface and into the mantle as the Indian plate drifted towards Asia. The study provides insights into the origins of this peculiar phenomenon, although predicting the exact geological landscape of the Earth millions of years ago remains challenging.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole
science-and-technology2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole

Scientists have used supercomputers to simulate the formation of the "gravity hole" in the Indian Ocean, a depression that experiences less gravity than the rest of the planet. The study suggests that the cause of the gravity hole is likely due to plumes of magma under the Earth's crust, formed by the drifting and collision of India's subcontinent with Asia 40 million years ago. The researchers ran simulations dating back 140 million years, with six of them leading to the formation of the gravity hole. However, some experts argue that the study fails to account for certain factors and that the simulated geoid differs from Earth's real surface shape.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's 'Gravity Hole'
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's 'Gravity Hole'

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Science have proposed a credible explanation for the "gravity hole" in the Indian Ocean, where Earth's gravitational pull is weaker and the sea level dips significantly. Using computer simulations, they found that plumes of magma originating from the disappearance of an ancient ocean between India and Asia could be responsible for the formation of this gravitational anomaly. The simulations showed that the presence of these magma plumes, along with the mantle structure, led to the formation of the "gravity hole." The research provides insights into Earth's complex structure and its impact on gravity.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole

Scientists have discovered the cause of a massive 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean, which is an area with low gravitational pull causing the seafloor to sink. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science have found that the hole was formed by plumes of hot, low-density magma rising up beneath the oceanic low. These plumes, along with a distinctive mantle structure, created the geoid low. However, further research is needed to fully understand the phenomenon.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean
earth-science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean

Scientists have discovered a 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean, where the sea level is around 340 feet lower than the surrounding area. A team of researchers in India believe that this gravity hole was formed by plumes of low-density magma that rose up from Earth's mantle. These plumes were generated by the remains of a sunken tectonic plate called Tethys, lost when India became part of Asia 50 million years ago. The study used computer simulations to track the movement of tectonic plates and suggests that the violent interactions between these plates may hold clues to the existence of this gravitational anomaly.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean

Scientists have identified the cause of a deep "gravity hole" in the Indian Ocean, where Earth's gravitational pull is weaker. A study suggests that the low-density magma pushed into the Indian Ocean by sinking slabs of an ancient ocean is responsible for the anomaly. Computer models showed that plumes of hot, low-density magma rose up to displace higher-density material beneath the low, reducing the region's mass and weakening its gravity. These plumes originated from a disturbance under Africa, and remnants of seafloor from the ancient ocean of Tethys were pushed under the Indian plate, causing the formation of the plumes. Confirmation of the plumes' existence will require earthquake data collected from the area.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole

Scientists from India's Institute of Science have proposed a potential explanation for the mysterious gravity hole in the Indian Ocean. They believe that a cold and dense area, the remains of an old ocean plunged into a "slab graveyard" beneath Africa 30 million years ago, along with plumes of hot and low-density magma, are causing the gravity hole. However, further research is needed to confirm this theory.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Massive Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Massive Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean

Scientists have discovered a massive gravity "hole" in the Indian Ocean, where ocean levels are about 300 feet lower than surrounding areas. The anomaly, spanning a million square miles, is not a physical hole but an area where Earth's gravity is lower than average. Previous theories suggested something low density underneath caused the effect, but a new study proposes that plumes of low-density magma rising from an ancient ocean bed could be responsible. The study found that the gravity hole was likely formed due to the separation of the supercontinent Gondwana around 120 million years ago, with the remnants of the ocean bed contributing to the low gravity area.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Indian Ocean's Gravity Hole

Scientists have discovered the cause of a massive 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean, which is an area with low gravitational pull causing the seafloor to sink. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science have found that the hole was formed by plumes of hot, low-density magma rising up beneath the oceanic low. These plumes, along with a distinctive mantle structure, created the geoid low. However, further research is needed to fully understand the phenomenon.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean
science2 years ago

Unraveling the Mystery of the Gravity Hole in the Indian Ocean

Scientists have discovered a "gravity hole" in the Indian Ocean, where the pull of gravity is lower than average, resulting in a lower sea level. This phenomenon is likely caused by magma plumes that have been flowing for the past 20 million years. The researchers believe that when these plumes eventually stop, the gravity hole will dissipate. This finding provides valuable insights into Earth's geoid and gravitational variations.