<p>The weaker local gravity in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean_Geoid_Low" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Indian Ocean geoid low</a> (IOGL) causes the sea level to be 106 m below the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_mean_sea_level" rel="nofollow noreferrer">global mean sea level</a>. Why is that ?</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>&quot;Because of this lower density, the gravitational pull in the IOGL
region is weaker than normal.&quot;</em> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean_Geoid_Low" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>I would have expected the exact opposite: namely that <strong>stronger</strong> (not weaker) gravitational pull would pull the water down <strong>stronger</strong> and therefore cause a lower sea level. What is wrong with my logic ?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/5rMVo.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/5rMVo.png" alt="earth gravitational model" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-09T07:15:46.480Z
Note that this question has been asked before, but with no upvoted answer: [Why is sealevel higher where gravity is higher](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/25259/why-is-sealevel-higher-where-gravity-is-higher/25271)?
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-09T15:04:55.107Z
It's also been asked (and answered!) at Physics.SE https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/773380
Jean-Marie Prival
<geophysics><oceanography><sea-level><gravity><ocean-models>
Why does weaker local gravity cause lower sea level?
summerrain
# Why does weaker local gravity cause lower sea level?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-08)

The weaker local gravity in the [Indian Ocean geoid low](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean_Geoid_Low) (IOGL) causes the sea level to be 106 m below the [global mean sea level](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_mean_sea_level). Why is that ?

> *"Because of this lower density, the gravitational pull in the IOGL
> region is weaker than normal."* [source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean_Geoid_Low)

I would have expected the exact opposite: namely that **stronger** (not weaker) gravitational pull would pull the water down **stronger** and therefore cause a lower sea level. What is wrong with my logic ?

[![earth gravitational model](https://i.sstatic.net/5rMVo.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/5rMVo.png)

**Tags:** geophysics, oceanography, sea-level, gravity, ocean-models

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Note that this question has been asked before, but with no upvoted answer: [Why is sealevel higher where gravity is higher](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/25259/why-is-sealevel-higher-where-gravity-is-higher/25271)?  
> **username_2**: It's also been asked (and answered!) at Physics.SE https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/773380  

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