However, the team has yet to ascertain whether and how the gravity hole could impact Antarctica, especially as the effects of climate change worsen each year.<\/p>\n
Not all spots are equal <\/p>\n
The geoid<\/a> is the bumpy, irregular ocean surface shaped by Earth\u2019s gravitational influence. Gravity varies across regions on Earth, although these differences are small enough that you never see someone flying or getting crushed from gravitational anomalies. For you and me, it\u2019s exceptionally subtle; for water, these differences in gravitational pull can exert a meaningful impact.<\/p>\n Indeed, these variations exert significant influence on Earth\u2019s oceans. For instance, water tends to flow toward areas of stronger gravity, so sea levels in regions with relatively lower gravity, like Antarctica, are typically lower than expected.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The \u201clow\u201d here refers to a \u201cbroad depression in Earth\u2019s gravity field caused by a deficit of mass at depth,\u201d explained the researchers in a release<\/a> from the Paris Institute of Earth Physics.<\/p>\n Tracking gravity\u2019s path <\/p>\n For the study, the team reconstructed the 3D structure inside Earth using global earthquake recordings and \u201cseismic, geodynamic, and mineral-physics data,\u201d according to the paper. The team\u2019s model accounted for elements such as mantle dynamics, gravity field data, and changes to Earth\u2019s rotational behavior.<\/p>\n![\"Earth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Earth_Gravitational_Model_1996-geoid.png\")
A map of the Earth\u2019s geoid, represented in meters. Credit: NASA <\/p>\n