‘Indian Ocean’s gravity hole’: A 106-meter drop linked to ancient forces beneath Earth
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Gravity Hole
Beneath the Indian Ocean lies a mysterious gravity anomaly, where Earth’s surface dips over 100 meters lower than surrounding areas, puzzling scientists for decades.
Mantle Mystery
New research suggests the IOGL is caused by hot, low-density mantle material rising from deep inside Earth — a hidden force shaping ocean basins.
Lumpy Earth
Far from a perfect sphere, Earth’s gravity field is like a “lumpy potato,” and the IOGL marks the deepest gravitational dent ever found on our planet.
Ancient Origins
Simulations show that 140 million years of mantle convection and tectonic drift caused the gravity hole — linked to the disappearance of an ancient ocean.
Superplume Connection
Scientists trace the anomaly to the African superplume, a massive upwelling of hot mantle rock that stretches beneath the Indian Ocean’s floor, shaping gravity itself.
Ocean’s Ghost
As India’s landmass drifted north, it closed an ancient ocean — the sunken remnants of which may have triggered the mantle plumes behind the IOGL.
Uncertain Future
Will this gravity hole vanish? Future tectonic shifts may erase it in millions of years — or it might linger as a geological relic, depending on Earth’s deep dynamics.
Gravity’s Fingerprint
By mapping the IOGL, scientists are reading Earth’s hidden history, revealing how mantle forces and lost oceans still shape the planet’s surface today.
Debate Continues
Though this study offers the clearest model yet, some experts argue key forces like Réunion Island’s massive plume and other volcanic systems remain unaccounted for.