Scientists uncover origin of Antarctica’s mysterious ‘gravity hole’

By Gizem Nisa Demir

ISTANBUL (AA)—A new study has uncovered the origins of a so-called "gravity hole" beneath Antarctica, an area where Earth’s gravitational pull is unusually weak, according to a report.

Research published in Scientific Reports suggests that rising hot mantle rock reshaped gravity patterns over millions of years, influencing ocean distribution and potentially aiding the growth of Antarctica’s vast ice sheets, The Independent reported on Tuesday.

Scientists combined earthquake data with physics-based modeling to produce a gravitational map matching satellite observations.

"If we can better understand how Earth's interior shapes gravity and sea levels, we gain insight into factors that may matter for the growth and stability of large ice sheets," said Alessandro Forte of the University of Florida.

Simulations dating back nearly 70 million years suggest that the anomaly increased between 50 million and 30 million years ago, corresponding with major climate shifts and expanding glaciers.