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The topographic relief of the Indian Ocean floor and surrounding continents ranges from ~8 km above sea level [the Himalayas (red to lavender), upper right] to ~7 km below it [the Java Trench south of Sumatra (dark purple), right edge]. Combining satellite gravity data with ship depth soundings reveals the plate tectonic fabric of the sea floor in detail. Variations in the increase in depth away from mid-ocean ridges (greens) suggests a complex pattern of heat loss from Earth. See p. 1956 and the News story on p. 1921. [Image: W. H. F. Smith]

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)