NASA has released a three-dimensional map of Earth’s gravity field showing that the planet deviates from a perfect sphere [1].

This model provides a critical scientific understanding of how gravitational variations influence the planet's physical form. By visualizing the geoid, researchers can better explain why gravity is not uniform across the globe and how these differences shape the Earth.

The map was generated using data collected by 19 NASA satellites orbiting the planet [1]. This complex dataset allowed the agency to create a representation of the geoid, a model of the Earth's shape determined specifically by gravity [2].

According to the NASA technical team, the model, identified as GOCO06s, demonstrates how gravitational equilibrium defines the planet's structure [3]. The resulting image does not depict the Earth as it appears visually from space, but rather as a scientific representation of its gravitational field [2].

"The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but a geoid determined by terrestrial gravity," NASA said in a video narration [2].

The agency presented the 3D map to illustrate the complexities of the Earth's mass distribution. The project highlights that the planet's surface and interior are not evenly balanced, leading to the irregular shape captured in the GOCO06s model [3].

"NASA presented a three-dimensional map of the terrestrial gravitational field prepared with data from 19 satellites," a NASA spokesperson said [1].

“The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but a geoid determined by terrestrial gravity.”

The release of the GOCO06s model clarifies the distinction between the Earth's visual appearance and its gravitational reality. While the planet looks like a sphere from a distance, the geoid reveals the 'lumpiness' of Earth's gravity caused by uneven mass distribution in the mantle and crust. This data is essential for precise satellite navigation and understanding geophysical processes.