southern hemisphere
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The half of the Earth that is south of the equator: The "southern hemisphere" is the geographical region comprising all areas of Earth located south of the equatorial line (0° latitude). It contains the South Pole and a significant portion of the world's oceans, as well as continents like Australia, most of South America, parts of Africa, and Antarctica.
Usage
- The term is used to describe location, climate, seasons, and astronomical observations relative to this half of the globe.
- It is often contrasted with the "northern hemisphere."
Examples
- Noun:
- Australia is located entirely in the southern hemisphere.
- The seasons in the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere; when it is summer in Brazil, it is winter in Canada.
- Many constellations visible from the southern hemisphere, like the Southern Cross, are not seen from northern latitudes.
Advanced Usage
- "the southern hemisphere's skies": Refers to the night sky as viewed from the southern half of the Earth.
- Astronomers use telescopes in Chile to study the southern hemisphere's skies.
- "southern hemisphere summer/winter": Specifies a season within this region.
- Cyclone season in the South Pacific peaks during the southern hemisphere summer.
Variants and Related Words
- Hemisphere (n): Any half of a sphere, especially half of the Earth (e.g., northern hemisphere, western hemisphere).
- Southern (adj): Situated in, directed toward, or coming from the south.
- Equator (n): The imaginary great circle around the Earth's surface, equidistant from the poles, dividing the northern and southern hemispheres.
Synonyms
- Southland (poetic/literary): A term sometimes used to refer to southern regions, though not a precise synonym for the hemisphere.
- The Antipodes (often plural): Refers specifically to Australia and New Zealand, or any two places on opposite sides of the Earth; it implies a point diametrically opposite, often in the southern hemisphere.
Related Phrases
- "Below the equator": A common phrase meaning in the southern hemisphere.
- They took a cruise to several islands below the equator.
- "The southern half of the globe": A descriptive phrase for the southern hemisphere.
- This bird species is only found in the southern half of the globe.
Noun
- the hemisphere to the south of the equator