Southern Hemisphere

The Southern Hemisphere is one of the two halves of Earth, divided by the Equator (0° latitude). It contains approximately 32-33% of Earth's landmass, including most of South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.1

The Southern Hemisphere experiences seasons opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. For instance, when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere (around June 21), it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. This occurs because Earth's axis is tilted, causing different parts of the planet to receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year.23

The ocean surrounding Antarctica, south of 60° S latitude, is known as the Southern Ocean. This ocean is characterized by prevailing westerly winds in its temperate latitudes and experiences cooler temperatures as one moves further south.456