Which Hemisphere Has The Largest Area Covered By Oceans?
The term hemisphere refers to one of the four regions of the world that were created due to the impact of the most influential line of latitude, the equator, and the most crucial line of longitude, the prime meridian. The oceans are the largest water bodies on the earth's surface, and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization, they cover an area of roughly 139,000,000 square miles which is equivalent to 71% of the world's total surface area. While the region of the world north of the equator has the highest territory covered by land, the region to the south of the equator has the most area covered by oceans.
Composition of the Southern Hemisphere
The region of the world located to the south of the equator or the Southern Hemisphere is composed of both land and water. According to the book, Life on Earth, 33% of the world's total land area is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. The book also indicates that oceans in the Southern Hemisphere span across 81% of the region. Out of the five recognized oceans in the world, four have a section that is situated within the Southern Hemisphere. The Arctic Ocean is the only major water body that does not have a section situated within the Southern Hemisphere.
The Atlantic Ocean
Covering an area of roughly 41,100,000 square miles, the Atlantic Ocean is one of the largest oceans on earth. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Atlantic Ocean covers a significant area. Several nations have coastlines on the southern section of the Atlantic Ocean such as South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. Some of the most prominent ports in this section include Cape Town and Luanda.
The Indian Ocean
Roughly 20% of the world’s water is located within the Indian Ocean which makes it one of the largest water bodies on earth. The largest section of the Indian Ocean is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. There are several large ports in this section such as Port Adelaide, the Port of Melbourne, and Mombasa. This portion of the Indian Ocean is one of the most historic sections of the ocean as it was the sight of the Indian Ocean trade that led to the development of several towns.
The Southern Ocean
One of the unique oceans of the world is the Southern Ocean since it is entirely situated within the Southern Hemisphere. The Southern Ocean is a relatively small ocean as it is only large than the Arctic Ocean. The Southern Ocean is a relatively young ocean as the International Hydrographic Organization defined its geographic limits quite recently.
The Pacific Ocean
The ocean that occupies the largest area on earth is the Pacific Ocean. The total area that it covers is roughly 33% of the world's total area. Some of the Atlantic Ocean's most prominent ports are situated on its southern edge such as the ports of Brisbane and Newcastle in Australia.
Effect of Ocean Cover on the Climate of the Southern Hemisphere
Since the oceans cover a massive section of the Southern Hemisphere, they influence the climate of the nations located in this region. The oceans mainly influence the climate of towns and cities along the coast.
