There’s no doubt that summer brings us immeasurable joy and pleasure throughout the time it hit us. The discussions over the summer are limitless. Therefore this time, we stopped by the summer in southern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere is the south half of the planet earth. Generally, the summer happens in the southern hemisphere from December to February.
So let’s go and dig into some worthy insights of summer in southern hemisphere that you, too, would be interested in knowing.
The Southern Hemisphere
The southern hemisphere is the portion of the Earth that rests south of the equator. It comprises all or elements of five continents. Specifically, Antarctica, Australia, around 90% of South America, one-third of Africa, and numerous islands above the continental land of Asia. In addition, there are four oceans. Namely: Indian, South Atlantic, Southern, and South Pacific. And New Zealand and most of the Pacific Islands in Oceania. Furthermore, its surface is 80.9% water, contrasted with 60.7% water in the case of the Northern Hemisphere, and it holds 32.7% of Earth’s land.
Thanks to the inclination of Earth’s rotation relevant to the sun and the ecliptic plane, summer is from December to February. And, winter is from June to August. Also, September 22 or 23 is the vernal equinox, and March 20 or 21 is the fall equinox. The South Pole persists in the center of the southern hemispherical sector.
Moreover, southern hemisphere climates lead to be somewhat milder than those at related latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, except in the Antarctic, which is cooler than the Arctic. Generally, this happens because the Southern Hemisphere has significantly more ocean and much more limited land; water heats up and cools down more gently than land. Also, the variations are connected to oceanic heat transfer and differing measures of greenhouse trapping.
The five continents positioned in the Southern Hemisphere are Antarctica, Africa, Australia, South America, and Asia. However, of these continents, only Australia and Antarctica are entirely within the Southern Hemisphere.
Furthermore, around 800 million people live in this half of the Earth. With an approximated population of 261 million, Indonesia is the most populated nation that partially resides within the Southern Hemisphere. At the same time, Brazil rates as the second most populated, with a predicted population of 200 million.
Countries That Partially and Mostly Belong to the Southern Hemisphere
- Brazil
- Ecuador
- Colombia
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Gabon
- Equatorial Guinea
- Kenya
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Somalia
- Uganda
- Indonesia
- Maldives
- Kiribati
Countries That Entirely Belong to the Southern Hemisphere
- Tanzania
- South Africa
- Argentina
- Angola
- Peru
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Malawi
- Chile
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Rwanda
- Lesotho
- Timor Leste
- Mauritius
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Comoros
- Solomon Islands
- Vanuatu
- Seychelles
- Tuvalu
- Nauru
Summer in Antarctica
Antarctica’s summer falls from October to February. Throughout this time, the sun is practically always in the sky. Days swiftly get longer there in summer until, ultimately, the sun doesn’t set at all. This event is known as the Midnight Sun. Although various places in the northern hemisphere encounter this constant sunlight during half of the year, Antarctica is the only southern location where it can be observed.
January is the hottest month in Antarctica. In which average temperatures rise to 0 degrees in the Antarctic Peninsula. However, the average temperature fluctuates from -10 degrees Celcius to -60 degrees, depending on how far into the continent you advance.
Moreover, if you choose to visit Antarctica during late summer, you could have the chance to witness whales and penguins. Also, by March, penguins are a typical scene.
Summer in Africa
Generally, African summer months are from December to March. Some South African provinces have summer rainfall, with sunny days and cooling showers in the late afternoon. Others have burning hot summers and windy, damp winters. But even then, it’s nowhere as profound as winter temperatures in Europe. Africa is pretty dry, with rainfall scores at around 464mm or less.
Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas in South Africa is a bright, beach-bound affair. In fact, Christmas lunch is frequently experienced outdoors. Meanwhile, the entire country has summer over December, and it’s helpful to read up on the particular areas you’ll be visiting. Through winter, the coastal regions have the warmest temperatures. Inland, the high altitudes generate temperatures to drop below freezing point. The regular standard temperatures are also lower here in summer.
Summer in Australia
The summer months in Australia occur between December and February. And February is habitually sunny with high temperatures. Moreover, Southern parts of the country could offer you the best summer experience with hotter and brighter days and with unbelievable experiences comes in handy. In summer, the average maximum temperatures are about 26°C/79°F. It can also be humid at this time, with an average humidity of 65%.
Australia hosts many popular summer celebrations and festivals throughout the season. Some famous festivals they have during the summer months are:
- Illawarra Folk Festival
- Woodford Folk Festival
- Sydney Chinese New Year Festival
- Falls Festival
- The Cygnet Folk Festival
- Tropfest
- Mardi Gras
- Taste of Tasmania
- Tuggeranong Festival
- Brisbane Water Oyster Festival
Summer in South America
In South America, the summer months happen between December and February. For the immense preponderance of the continent, this is the hottest time of the year. But also, usually, the wettest. Yet, the Patagonia region tends to be excluded from the constant rain of summer, which makes it an extravagant summer destination when blended with the warm temperature. Also, this is the ideal period to take an excursion along the shoreline of Peru as the foggy mist of winter will have lifted and the whole region soaked in sunshine.
The beaches of Colombia also come alive during the South American summer season. Towards the end of summer is carnival season. And the Rio Carnival, one of the best performances in the world, packs the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, it’s also the crown season in Antarctica, with expedition cruises working full schedules in the warmer months.
Summer in Asia
The climate is very assorted in Asia. In fact, there are all sorts of temperatures on Earth, from the cold Arctic in the north, continental in Siberia, Musoni in the East and the South, and to the semi-desert and the central portion of the desert south-west of the continent.
Most places in Asia are hot and wet through summer unless you travel to milder climates at higher altitudes. Urban heat in big capital cities can become harsh.
Just as monsoon rains move in to keep much of Southeast Asia green, the dry season begins in places around Malaysia and Indonesia. Also, countries in East Asia such as China and Japan could really get heat up in the summer.
Some famous summer celebrations and festivals in Asia are as follows:
- Holi in India
- Bali Spirit Festival in Bali, Indonesia
- Rath Yatra in Puri, India
- Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, Japan
- Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea.
Finally, summer in southern hemisphere actually does not end here. We have a lot more to discuss as continents and countries, which we will definitely bring you from our future posts. Therefore, just keep in touch and comment below on what you will be doing during summer if you live in one of these southern hemisphere countries.
