Because of these inconsistencies, scientists rely on complex mathematical models to define a global reference datum. The Earth is not a perfect sphere, but an oblate spheroid, meaning it bulges at the equator due to its rotation.
Mapping Earth's Elevation with the Geoid Model
When people refer to the height of Earth, they are usually describing the planet's vertical dimensions, from the base of the oceans to the summit of the highest mountains and the outer edge of its atmosphere. Understanding this measurement requires looking beyond simple surface statistics and considering the dynamic forces that shape the globe.
Equatorial Bulge and Polar Flattening The rotation of the Earth creates a centrifugal force that pushes mass outward at the equator. 86 meters above the geoid.
Mapping Earth's Elevation with the Geoid Model
The exosphere, the outermost layer, gradually thins and extends up to 10,000 kilometers into space. When we calculate the mean radius of the planet—approximately 6,371 kilometers—we are effectively determining its average height from the center of mass to the geoid.
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