Gravity is why we stand on Earth the way we do, it is the sole reason that dominates space-time and new research indicates it is not only at the heart of Earth’s unique shape, but it is still shaping the planet from within. And if you think Earth is round, you are wrong, and for those who think it’s flat, this will be a revelation.

The Earth’s shape is ellipsoid thanks to gravity hammering it throughout its lifetime like all other planets in our solar system. The ellipsoid shape is the reason why there is a greater distance between the center of Earth and the surface at the equator than the center of Earth and the surface at the poles.

Researchers have now found how gravitational forces deep within the Earth have helped in the evolution of its landscape and shape, these forces are deep under the mountain belts that trigger dramatic movements along faults. These faults result in the collapse of the mountain belt and exposure of rocks that were once over 30 kilometers below the surface.

While Earth’s shape has been impacted by gravity, there are other factors at play as well. These include the uneven surface of the planet, varying levels of resource distribution within the planet’s interior, and irregular layers within the crust and mantle.

The study published in the journal Nature Communications states that gravitational forces generated by topography and crustal movement cause an upward flow pattern of the lower-middle crust. The findings could give new insight into the understanding of the evolution of our own planet.

Scientists studied exposures called the metamorphic core complexes, which are a fossil signature of past mountain belts in the Western United States around the areas of Phoenix and Las Vegas to reach the conclusion.

Researchers have long been analysing the relationship between climate and tectonics. A study published earlier simulated the landscape and erosion/deposition history of the region before, during, and after the formation of these metamorphic core complexes.

Geologists also showed that the peak in mammal diversification can be statistically tied to the peak in the extensional collapse of the ancient mountain belts, quantifying how deep Earth forces combine with climate to influence the landscape and impact mammal diversification and species dispersal found within the fossil record.                Source: India Today