Indian Ocean’s giant 'gravity hole': All you may want to know

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Indian Institute of Science shed light on the enigmatic 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean recently, uncovering its formation linked to ancient ocean movements and hot magma plumes. In this unique region, the gravity of Earth is very low and the sea level has also been found to be over 106 m lower than the global average. The Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL) as it is called is a vast area spanning approximately three million square kilometers. It baffled scientists due to its unusual sea level dip caused by gravitational forces near the Indian subcontinent. Investigating the Earth's internal structure, researchers discovered that the gravitational field of the planet is non-uniform due to variations in density and mass distribution. By examining how tectonic plates moved over 140 million years, the study led by Debanjan Pal and Attreyee Ghosh revealed a significant event in the Earth's past when an ancient ocean delved beneath the crust and interacted with molten rock nearly 30 million years ago. This study has been published in the journal, Geophysical Research Letters. Computer simulations indicated that plumes of hot, low-density magma were crucial for the gravity hole to form, with the first plume emerging about 20 million years ago, subsequently intensifying the gravity anomaly. The researchers emphasized the significance of these plumes in generating the IOGL, while also acknowledging the contribution of lower mantle Tethys slabs in forming the geoid low. This study not only unravels the mystery of the Indian Ocean's 'gravity hole' but also sheds light on the intricate interplay of Earth's geophysical forces that shape our planet's surface.

What is the cause of the 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean?The gravity