Question

Compare the global distribution of temperature in January over the northern and the southern hemisphere of the earth.

Answer 1

In January, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere and winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The main reason is that the sun’s vertical rays fall over the Southern Hemisphere during this time. Areas near the equator have temperatures around 27°C, while in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures fall sharply. In Siberia, temperatures may drop from 20°C to –48°C.

In the Southern Hemisphere, temperatures remain high, especially over oceans (about 24°C in the tropics). The isotherms bend southward over land in the Northern Hemisphere because land cools faster, while they remain more regular in the Southern Hemisphere due to the moderating effect of oceans.