Why doesn't the Southern Hemisphere have the same harsh winters as the Northern Hemisphere countries? (4 photos)
Inquisitive minds have probably paid attention to a curious natural feature: the South Pole is much colder than the North Pole, but in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere, winters are much warmer than in the North. Why don't Argentina, Australia and South Africa have the same harsh winters as Canada? 
Why is the South Pole colder than the North Pole?
“North” is a concept that is usually associated with harsh winters and piercing winds, while “south” is the antipode of inhospitable elements.
But when it comes to the poles, the situation changes. The southernmost point of the planet is the coldest place on Earth: a temperature of -98°C was recorded there, below the record of the Oymyakon station and other cold poles.
However, it is worth considering that Antarctica is covered with a many-kilometer layer of ice, and therefore the South Pole is almost 2.8 thousand meters above sea level. Air is a poor conductor, making it difficult for heat to penetrate into the upper air space. 
Lake Fryxell, Antarctica
The North Pole, on the other hand, is located at sea level. The ocean around it absorbs solar heat better than air, and therefore it is warmer there than at the South Pole: in winter the temperature reaches -40°C, in summer up to 0°C.
However, this is still much colder than tropical and equatorial climates. Why, then, in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere do not have the same severe winters as in Norway, Finland and Canada?
Why do countries in the Southern Hemisphere have warm winters?
Happy residents of Patagonia and Oceania, as well as carefree Africans, are saved from winter by the presence of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. Cold air masses formed above the pole reach neighboring continents already warmed by water.
The Northern Hemisphere was less fortunate. Residents of Canada are far from the oceans and large bodies of water - thermal reservoirs that store heat longer and soften temperature changes. Therefore, a continental climate dominates on the continents: harsh winters and hot summers with little precipitation. 
Climatic map of the planet's zones. In Scandinavia and Canada, the most common climate is continental. It is nowhere to be found in the Southern Hemisphere
In addition, even the extreme points of the countries of the Southern Hemisphere are not comparable in latitude with the cold regions of the north. The southernmost places of Argentina and Chile are at 55° and 56° S. respectively.
Only in these regions of South America does the temperature reach 0°C. In Australia it is 43° S. – latitude of Sochi. Even in the cold months, the thermometer there does not drop below +3°C, and only the mountains are covered with snow. In other regions, the climate is temperate or tropical, warm all year round. 
Patagonia, the southern region of Argentina, combines a warm climate in the plains and a cold climate in the mountains.
Occasionally, climate anomalies occur in the Southern Hemisphere. Sometimes cold winds reach them, and then Australia, South Africa and Argentina are covered with snow. Low temperatures are also observed in the Andes and Great Dividing Range mountain systems: there is always snow there, and temperatures drop to -23.0°C.
The only region in the south where the climate is harsh and cold is Antarctica. True, the weather there is even harsher than in Canada: the average temperature in summer is -35°C, and in winter -65°C. There is no permanent population there; several thousand people live at research stations.
Due to its proximity to the ocean, the climate in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere is much milder than in the countries of the North. In addition, Argentina and Chile do not have large cities located at the same latitude. Therefore, the inhabitants of these countries are not accustomed to harsh winters and low temperatures.
Would you like to live in the countries of the Southern Hemisphere? Or will you still not give up the northern winter?
