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The Poles are ~21 km downhill from the equator in a spherical coordinate system.

So why doesn't water pool there?

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    $\begingroup$ Possible duplicate: Why is the Earth so fat? $\endgroup$
    – Qmechanic ♦
    Dec 26, 2020 at 0:45
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks. That's useful stuff. I wonder whether it answers this question though. $\endgroup$
    – cumfy
    Dec 26, 2020 at 4:57
  • $\begingroup$ There's some relevant info at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopotential & the other articles linked on that page. $\endgroup$
    – PM 2Ring
    Dec 26, 2020 at 5:19

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Because of the Earth's rotation it has a centrifugal force that causes the equatorial bulge. The water in the oceans rotate with the Earth so at the equator the water has more centrifugal force acting on it than it does closer to the poles.

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  • $\begingroup$ So would the Equator become a desert if the Earth stopped spinning ? $\endgroup$
    – cumfy
    Dec 26, 2020 at 5:00
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    $\begingroup$ @cumfy If the Earth stopped spinning then gravity would pull it into a more spherical shape, so it would lose its polar flattening. That process wouldn't be instantaneous, but neither would any process that stops Earth spinning, assuming that you don't want to rip the crust off. ;) $\endgroup$
    – PM 2Ring
    Dec 26, 2020 at 5:26
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    $\begingroup$ @cumfy With no rotation sea levels would change over most of Earth and the whole Earth would eventually become more spherical, altering the shape of most land mases. $\endgroup$
    – Adrian Howard
    Dec 26, 2020 at 6:20

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