Geoid

[CFTraveler]

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM1AK6UPLG_index_0.html

The first geogravitational model derived from data illustrated.

[eyeoneblack]

That's facinating and puzzling :? .

You can see the higher gravity along the Andes, but the bulge you expect for the Himalayas doesn't appear to be where it should. Also notice the big 'hole' of lower gravity off the tip of India??

It's hard really to make out, there's a huge bulge in Northern Europe which would bode ill I imagine for Holland should the seas rise.

No doubt this is going to be great data for all kinds of earth scientists :D .

BTW, the article didn't mention that the data is exaggerated 10,000x (from a brief blurb on it in Nature mag.) The differences are a lot more subtle.....

This brings up another question: As we know, the Earth wobbles on its axis (precession) and this is largely the cause of ice ages. Take this wobble add to it uneven distribution of mass and seems to me the Earth might become an uneven load in a washing machine :shock: and go flying off into space. (We have enough to worry about :| .)

[CFTraveler]

But what about em?

[eyeoneblack]

But what about em?

Electromagnetism? :?: :P

Would the Earth's magnetic field somehow stabilize wobble and mass inequities? Hmmm.