According to a recent study, the Indian Ocean harbors a colossal and mysterious phenomenon known as a ‘Gravity Hole’, which scientists now suspect may be the remnant of an ancient sea that disappeared millions of years ago. This ground-breaking research offers a possible explanation for the origin of Earth’s most remarkable gravity anomaly, a huge depression hidden beneath the ocean’s surface. This vast region, known as the Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL), covers more than 2 million square miles and lies more than 600 miles below the Earth’s crust.
A study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that the IOGL contains plates from the Tethys Ocean, a long-lost sea that plunged into the depths of the planet millions of years ago. The Tethys Ocean, which once separated the supercontinents Gondwana and Laurasia, is believed to have disrupted the large low-shear-rate African province, also known as the “African Spot”, generating plumes beneath the Indian Ocean.
Lead author Debanjan Pal and Attreyee Ghosh explain, “These plumes, along with the mantle structure near the geoid low, are responsible for the formation of this negative geoid anomaly.”
Previous studies on the gravity anomaly have only focused on its current state without delving into its origins. But this new research used more than a dozen computer models to provide insight into the ancient forces that shaped the IOGL.
Geophysicist Shijie Zhong expressed his fascination with this unique phenomenon, stating, “We like to talk about positive gravity anomalies like superplumes over Africa and the Pacific. But the geoid low in the Indian Ocean is one of the deepest gravity anomalies.” on our planet.”
The gravity hole is estimated to have taken its current form about 20 million years ago and is predicted to persist for millions more. Its fascinating nature has captivated scientists, shedding light on the geological history of the Indian Ocean and deepening our understanding of the complex forces at work beneath our planet’s surface.
As more research uncovers the secrets hidden in the depths, scientists hope to uncover more mysteries surrounding this amazing phenomenon. The “Gravity Hole” serves as a reminder that the Earth still holds many mysteries waiting to be explored and understood.
