Why does Earth's gravity vary from place to place? In one of the planet's most significant puzzles, NASA's GRACE satellites discovered a vast region over Canada, particularly Hudson Bay, where gravity is mysteriously weaker. This isn't science fiction—it's a measurable anomaly that challenged scientists for years.
In this video, we explore how NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission mapped Earth's gravity field with unprecedented precision, revealing this "hole." We then dive into the compelling scientific explanation that involves ancient ice sheets, the slow rebound of the Earth's crust, and convection deep within the planet's mantle.
*What you'll learn:*
• *The GRACE Mission:* How twin satellites measure tiny changes in gravity by tracking their distance from each other.
• *Mapping the Anomaly:* The stunning gravity map that revealed Hudson Bay as a major weak spot.
• *The Leading Theory:* "Post-Glacial Rebound" – how the melting of the massive Laurentide Ice Sheet 10,000 years ago left a legacy of missing mass and rising land.
• *The Mantle's Role:* How sluggish convection currents deep beneath Canada contribute to the effect.
• *Why It Matters:* How understanding Earth's gravity field is crucial for climate science, oceanography, and even understanding water on other planets.
This is the story of how a space mission solved a terrestrial mystery.
Introduction: The Scale That Doesn't Balance
NASA's GRACE: The Satellite "Tape Measure"
The Gravity Map: Earth's Lumpy Potato Shape
Ground Zero: The Hudson Bay Anomaly
Theory #1: The Ghost of the Ice Age (Post-Glacial Rebound)
Theory #2: The Slow Churn of the Mantle
Weighing the Evidence: How Much is Ice vs. Mantle?
GRACE-FO: The Next Generation of Gravity Missions
Conclusion: A More Perfect Understanding of Our Planet
Data and visuals from NASA's GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
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