Friday Fun Facts

Did you know there's a flat spot in the curvature of the ocean?
Okay, no scientist really describes it as a flat spot, but that's how my own pea brain pictures it.
The Indian Ocean Geoid Low is a place where the earth's gravity is much lower than the surrounding area so the water of the Indian Ocean is pulled away from the low gravity area making the surface of the ocean nearly 100 meters lower at the center off it than the surrounding ocean.

Because of the size of the area, there isn't really a perceptible hole in the ocean, just a gradual decrease and increase in the actual sea level versus the mean sea level.
Over 100 meters; nearly 350 feet!

I wonder if you measured your vertical jump from the deck of a ship at the center of the geoid vs outside of it if your jump in less gravity would increase.

Our little planet is pretty amazing, isn't?

John