The land hemisphere and water hemisphere are the hemispheres of Earth containing the largest possible total areas of land and ocean, respectively. By definition (assuming that the entire surface can be classified as either "land" or "ocean"), the two hemispheres do not overlap.
Determinations of the hemispheres vary slightly. One determination places the centre of the land hemisphere at 47°13′N 1°32′W / 47.217°N 1.533°W (in the city of Nantes, France). The centre of the water hemisphere is the antipode of the centre of the land hemisphere, and is therefore located at 47°13′S 178°28′E / 47.217°S 178.467°E (near New Zealand's Bounty Islands in the Pacific Ocean).
An alternative assignment determines the centre of the land hemisphere to be at 47°24′42″N 2°37′15″W / 47.411667°N 2.620833°W (in near Piriac-sur-Mer, France). The centre of the sea hemisphere is located at 47°24′42″S 177°22′45″E / 47.411667°S 177.379167°E (near New Zealand's Bounty Islands in the Pacific Ocean).
Distribution of geographical features
The land hemisphere has the substantial majority of the planet's land (80.1 percent), including nearly all of Asia (with Maritime Southeast Asia being the only notable exception) and most of South America. Africa, Europe, and North America are solely within the land hemisphere. However, even in the land hemisphere, the water area still slightly exceeds the land area (with 53 percent water to 47 percent land). This hemisphere is almost identical to the hemisphere containing the greatest human population. The land hemisphere also contains most of Earth's inland waters, including the African Great Lakes, Eurasia's Caspian Sea, the Great Lakes of North America, and Lake Baikal in Siberia.
The water hemisphere has only about one-fifth of the world's land, including Easter Island, the Hawaiian Islands, other Pacific islands, Maritime Southeast Asia, the southern tip of the Indochinese Peninsula, the southern portion of the Malay Peninsula, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and the Southern Cone of the Americas. Antarctica, Australia, and Zealandia are solely within the water hemisphere. Some sources further divide land into "dry land" and "ice cap". Antarctica provides the water hemisphere with the majority of Earth's ice.
Most of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and the whole Southern Ocean, are in the water hemisphere. The water hemisphere is approximately 89 percent water (almost all pertaining to the World Ocean), 6 percent dry land and 5 percent polar ice cap.
The table below shows Alphonse Berget's estimates of the land area in each continent in the land and water hemispheres.
| Continent | Land area within each hemisphere km2 (sq mi) | |
|---|---|---|
| Land | Water | |
| Africa | 29,818,400 (11,512,949) | 0 (0) |
| Americas | 34,955,670 (13,496,460) | 3,391,010 (1,309,276) |
| Antarctica | 0 (0) | 13,120,000 (5,065,660) |
| Asia | 40,897,241 (15,790,513) | 3,245,649 (1,253,152) |
| Europe | 9,732,250 (3,757,643) | 0 (0) |
| Oceania | 0 (0) | 8,958,630 (3,458,946) |
| Total land area | 115,403,561 (44,557,564) | 28,715,289 (11,087,035) |
See also
- Geographical centre of Earth
- Ocean world
References
- Boggs, Samuel Whittemore (December 1945). "This Hemisphere". Journal of Geography. 44 (9): 345–355. doi:10.1080/00221344508986498.
- Berget, Alphonse (1913). "Répartition géographique des Océans (détermination du pôle continental)". Annales de l'Institut océanographique. 10 (in French). V.
- "L'ILE DUMET: LE NOMBRIL DU MONDE". France Secret (in French). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
- "How Much of Humanity is on Your Side of World?". Brilliant Maps. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
The land hemisphere and water hemisphere are the hemispheres of Earth containing the largest possible total areas of land and ocean respectively By definition assuming that the entire surface can be classified as either land or ocean the two hemispheres do not overlap Land hemisphereWater hemisphereFront view equal area maps of each hemisphere Side view equal area maps land hemisphere top water hemisphere bottom Determinations of the hemispheres vary slightly One determination places the centre of the land hemisphere at 47 13 N 1 32 W 47 217 N 1 533 W 47 217 1 533 in the city of Nantes France The centre of the water hemisphere is the antipode of the centre of the land hemisphere and is therefore located at 47 13 S 178 28 E 47 217 S 178 467 E 47 217 178 467 near New Zealand s Bounty Islands in the Pacific Ocean An alternative assignment determines the centre of the land hemisphere to be at 47 24 42 N 2 37 15 W 47 411667 N 2 620833 W 47 411667 2 620833 in fr near Piriac sur Mer France The centre of the sea hemisphere is located at 47 24 42 S 177 22 45 E 47 411667 S 177 379167 E 47 411667 177 379167 near New Zealand s Bounty Islands in the Pacific Ocean Distribution of geographical featuresThe land hemisphere has the substantial majority of the planet s land 80 1 percent including nearly all of Asia with Maritime Southeast Asia being the only notable exception and most of South America Africa Europe and North America are solely within the land hemisphere However even in the land hemisphere the water area still slightly exceeds the land area with 53 percent water to 47 percent land This hemisphere is almost identical to the hemisphere containing the greatest human population The land hemisphere also contains most of Earth s inland waters including the African Great Lakes Eurasia s Caspian Sea the Great Lakes of North America and Lake Baikal in Siberia The water hemisphere has only about one fifth of the world s land including Easter Island the Hawaiian Islands other Pacific islands Maritime Southeast Asia the southern tip of the Indochinese Peninsula the southern portion of the Malay Peninsula the Ryukyu Islands Taiwan and the Southern Cone of the Americas Antarctica Australia and Zealandia are solely within the water hemisphere Some sources further divide land into dry land and ice cap Antarctica provides the water hemisphere with the majority of Earth s ice Most of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean and the whole Southern Ocean are in the water hemisphere The water hemisphere is approximately 89 percent water almost all pertaining to the World Ocean 6 percent dry land and 5 percent polar ice cap The table below shows Alphonse Berget s estimates of the land area in each continent in the land and water hemispheres Continent Land area within each hemisphere km2 sq mi Land WaterAfrica 29 818 400 11 512 949 0 0 Americas 34 955 670 13 496 460 3 391 010 1 309 276 Antarctica 0 0 13 120 000 5 065 660 Asia 40 897 241 15 790 513 3 245 649 1 253 152 Europe 9 732 250 3 757 643 0 0 Oceania 0 0 8 958 630 3 458 946 Total land area 115 403 561 44 557 564 28 715 289 11 087 035 See alsoGeographical centre of Earth Ocean worldReferencesBoggs Samuel Whittemore December 1945 This Hemisphere Journal of Geography 44 9 345 355 doi 10 1080 00221344508986498 Berget Alphonse 1913 Repartition geographique des Oceans determination du pole continental Annales de l Institut oceanographique 10 in French V L ILE DUMET LE NOMBRIL DU MONDE France Secret in French Archived from the original on 10 November 2013 How Much of Humanity is on Your Side of World Brilliant Maps 27 September 2015 Retrieved 12 December 2016
