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I'm curious as to why stronger gravity areas are portrayed by outward growth (aka growth in the opposite direction of gravity) and not inward to portray compression. Is this a common representation or might it be to improve the potato-effect?

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I believe the elevation of each point relative to the center represents the distance that one would have to be from earth's centroid to experience the same gravitational acceleration (relative to some baseline, presumably an average).

So, if you're in a stronger-than-average gravity spot, you move away from the centre until you are experiencing the same gravitational force.

Personally, I like the explanation they gave in the article: "It is the shape the oceans would adopt if there were no winds, no currents and no tides ... magnified nearly 10,000 times".

That makes sense. Thanks!

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