Hemispheric Distribution
Oceans and continents are not distributed equally between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Comparative Analysis
- Northern Hemisphere: Contains a significantly larger proportion of the Earth’s total landmass.
- Southern Hemisphere: Is dominated by water, holding much more of the global ocean volume than the North.
Note
While we use specific names for oceans, they are all interconnected. Seawater constantly flows across different oceans through currents.
Extensions of Oceans
Oceans have smaller extensions that penetrate or border landmasses. These are known by various names:
- Sea: A large body of salt water smaller than an ocean.
- Bay: A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward.
- Gulf: A deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth.