See that red spot? Stand there and you might float into space!

Satellites solve mystery of low gravity over Canada – space – 10 May 2007 – New Scientist Space

If it seems Canadians weigh less than their American neighbours, they do – but not for the reasons you might think. A large swath of Canada actually boasts lower gravity than its surroundings.

Researchers have puzzled for years over whether this was due to the crust there rebounding slowly after the end of the last ice age or a deeper issue involving convection in the Earths mantle – or some combination of the two.

Now, ultra-precise measurements taken over four years by a pair of satellites known as GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment reveal that each effect is equally responsible for Canadas low gravity. The work could shed light on how continents form and evolve over time.

found by Bubba Martin



  1. Eideard says:

    Delightful Post. Now, if we could just explain geologic time to the Flat Earthers.

  2. cheese says:

    Could this be connected to the shifting of the magnetic pole?

  3. Kevin says:

    This only has one obvious conclusion: Flying Mounties!

  4. mark says:

    4. Canadians=lightweights, or America Lite.

  5. tallwookie says:

    Site of the next SpaceElevator – coming soon!

  6. James Hill says:

    #1 – Since your side of the political fence is so light in the head they might as well have their conventions there.

  7. BubbaRay says:

    If you buy products that are sold by weight, not volume, are they cheaper there?

  8. Mathew says:

    This opens more questions than it answers, specifically; Do we define weight around the world as a specific volume of something? If we do, then a KG here or in Canda will be the same amount of stuff, and if the scales are calibrated that way, they’ll both show they weigh a KG.

    Second question; How much of a difference are we talking about? If I take my 1 KG weight and calibrated scales for a drive to Canada, how much will the scales show up there?

    Very interesting!

  9. BubbaRay says:

    #8, The Kg is the last physical artifact used for international standards, and it seems the weight of one of these standard Kg masses would weigh less on a precision spring scale (not balance scale) at that location in Canada. Mass would be the same, of course.

    Just to hazard a guess, perhaps in the tens of micrograms range for the 1 Kg standard mass? A milligram difference would be surprising, indeed. Can’t find any hard data for support, darnit.

    Road trip!!

    http://www.bipm.fr/en/scientific/mass/prototype.html
    http://www.bipm.fr/en/scientific/mass/verifications.html


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