Oceans are not distributed equally over the Earth's surface; the Southern Hemisphere has significantly more ocean coverage than the Northern Hemisphere.
Here's a breakdown of ocean distribution:
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Uneven Coverage: The ocean covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface, totaling around 361 million square kilometers. However, this vast water body is not evenly spread.
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Hemispheric Differences:
- Northern Hemisphere: Approximately 61% of the Northern Hemisphere's surface is covered by oceans.
- Southern Hemisphere: A much larger portion, around 81%, of the Southern Hemisphere's surface is ocean.
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Why the Difference? The continents are distributed unevenly. The Northern Hemisphere has a greater landmass concentration, whereas the Southern Hemisphere is dominated by ocean, including the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.
In summary, ocean distribution is asymmetrical, with the Southern Hemisphere being significantly more ocean-dominated than the Northern Hemisphere due to continental landmass distribution.
