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

Many people have been surprised by NASA’s latest visualization of Earth, which gives the planet a shape resembling a potato. However, the image does not show Earth’s actual physical shape.

Instead, it depicts a scientific model known as the geoid, which illustrates how the ocean’s surface would look if it were influenced only by gravity, without the effects of tides, currents or winds.

The hills and valleys visible in the model are caused by the uneven distribution of material inside Earth. Areas containing denser rock or magma exert a slightly stronger gravitational pull, creating what scientists describe as gravitational “hills.” By contrast, regions with lower-density material form subtle gravitational “valleys,” where gravity is slightly weaker.

Visualizing gravity

To make these tiny differences visible, NASA exaggerated the variations by a factor of 10,000. In reality, the changes amount to only a few dozen yards in elevation and would be impossible to detect with the naked eye.

Using the model, scientists determined that the highest point in Earth’s gravitational field is located near Iceland, where the geoid rises about 279 feet above the global average. At the opposite extreme, south of India, it dips roughly 348 feet below the average.

Achieving that level of precision required years of work and cutting-edge technology. Researchers combined data from specialized satellites, including the European Space Agency’s GOCE mission and NASA’s GRACE mission.

After analyzing more than a billion measurements collected over 15 years, scientists were able to produce this highly detailed model.

How it differs from traditional maps

Most maps are based on a simplified geometric shape known as an ellipsoid, which makes calculations and mapmaking much easier.

The geoid, by comparison, is far more irregular, but it provides information that is essential for improving topographic surveys, satellite positioning and modern navigation systems.

The image is not meant to suggest that Earth is physically shaped like a potato.

Instead, it turns an invisible phenomenon into a highly accurate scientific visualization, giving researchers one of the best tools available for studying the planet’s internal structure and refining the accuracy of global navigation and mapping systems.

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