8th GradeSocial Studies

By T. Harris

Objective: To identify the four hemispheres.

Goal: To locate, illustrate, and label the hemispheres, the Equator, the Prime Meridian, the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.

There are four hemispheres◦Western◦Southern◦Eastern◦Northern

The Equator, that imaginary horizontal line at 0º degrees latitude at the center of the earth, divides the earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The vertical imaginary line called the Prime Meridian, at 0º degrees longitude, and its twin line of longitude, opposite the Prime Meridian at 180º longitude, divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Therefore (with some exceptions) all countries north of the Equator are in the Northern Hemisphere, while all countries south of the Equator are in the Southern Hemisphere.

In addition, all countries west of the Prime Meridian are in the Western Hemisphere while those east of the Prime Meridian are in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Generally the Eastern Hemisphere includes most of Africa, about half of Antarctica, all of Asia and Australia/Oceania, and most of Europe.

The Western Hemisphere includes about half of Antarctica and all of North and South America which includes the Caribbean and Central America as well as Greenland.

The Northern Hemisphere includes all of North America, the northern reaches of South America, about two-thirds of Africa, all of Asia excluding (parts of Indonesia) and all of Europe.

The Southern Hemisphere includes most of South America, one-third of Africa, all of Antarctica, a small sliver of Asia (parts of Indonesia) and all of Australia/Oceania.

There are exceptions as some continents (and their countries) based on the straight line divisions of the Equator and Prime Meridian are a part of two hemispheres.

Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn: Located at 23.5 degrees North and 23.5 degrees South of the Equator, this area of Planet Earth (between those two lines) is known as the "Tropics," and is colored with a lighter blue color on the globe.

This area experiences no dramatic change in season because the sun is consistently high in the sky throughout the year.

People living North of the Tropic of Cancer and South of the Tropic of Capricorn experience dramatic seasonal climate changes, based on the earth's tilt, and the subsequent angle of the sun.

When it's summer North of the Tropic of Cancer, it's winter South of the Tropic of Capricorn. (The reverse is also true).

Arctic Circle: It is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. Its exact location varies slightly each year, and currently it's positioned at 66° 33′ 44″ (or 66.5622°) north of the Equator.

Antarctic Circle: This parallel of latitude is currently at 66° 33′ 44″ ( or 66.5622°) south of the Equator.

Any questions???

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