NASA reveals Earth's geoid varies by 191 meters in gravity model

On 28 July 2026, NASA released a gravity-based model that shows Earth’s true shape is an irregular geoid, not a perfect sphere or ellipse.

The geoid—often nicknamed the “potato Earth”—deviates by up to 191 meters from a reference ellipsoid, with gravity highs beneath the western Pacific and lows near the Indian Ocean.

Such unevenness arises from mass imbalances inside the planet, driven by mantle convection and tectonic structures.

Data for the model came from the GRACE and GOCE satellites, which recorded gravity anomalies for years.

NASA says the geoid will sharpen satellite navigation, sea-level monitoring, and geophysical research.

Future refinements rely on next-generation gravity missions and on integrating the geoid into climate models that forecast ocean currents and ice sheet dynamics.