Not round, not an ellipse: NASA’s gravity-based model reveals Earth’s true geoid shape

NASA has introduced a gravity-based model that illustrates the Earth's true geoid shape, demonstrating that the planet is not a perfect sphere nor a simple ellipse. This new model reveals an irregular form that departs from traditional geometric descriptions of the Earth. According to reports from upday News, the gravity map produced by NASA shows that the geoid varies by as much as 191 meters, highlighting the uneven distribution of mass and gravitational pull across the globe. This irregular shape is the result of gravity-based measurements collected through various space missions. The coverage of this discovery is widespread across several outlets, with Diario AS and ColombiaOne.com explicitly noting that the planet is neither flat nor oval. ScienceABC has characterized the resulting visualization as a "Potato Earth" map, focusing on why the Earth's gravity is described as lumpy.

Additionally, Noticias Ambientales provides a detailed look at how space missions and the study of gravity are the primary tools used to reveal this irregular shape. These reports collectively emphasize the shift from a theoretical smooth model to a data-driven representation of the geoid. To understand the significance of this model, it is necessary to recognize that the geoid represents the surface of equal gravitational potential. While the Earth is often depicted as a sphere or an oblate spheroid in basic geography, the reality is a complex shape influenced by varying densities within the Earth's interior. The "lumpy" nature of the gravity map explained by ScienceABC suggests that gravitational pull is not uniform across the surface. This context explains why the image is being described by ColombiaOne.com as controversial, as it challenges common visual perceptions of the planet's geometry.

Future attention will likely focus on the implications of these gravity-based measurements and the specific space missions mentioned by Noticias Ambientales. Observers will be monitoring how the 191-meter variance reported by upday News integrates into existing geological and planetary models. As the scientific community analyzes the "Potato Earth" model, further details may emerge regarding the specific regions of the globe where the most significant gravitational irregularities occur. The ongoing use of NASA's gravity mapping technology will remain the primary source for understanding the Earth's true physical form.