{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.southern-hemisphere","code":"thing-q41228","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q41228/","name":"Southern Hemisphere","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.1.0-research.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Cross-cutting context","entryKind":"thing","plane":"XCT","domain":["XCT.QLT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"The Southern Hemisphere is the half of Earth lying south of the equator, comprising locations with negative geographic latitude and extending to the geographic South Pole.","purpose":"Enable an AI agent to recognise Earth's Southern Hemisphere, determine how places and spatial datasets relate to it, and judge when hemisphere-based interpretation or action is justified.","scope":{"in":["Identity as a geographic hemisphere defined by Earth's equator and South Pole","Treatment of the equator and membership of points, routes and areas","Coordinate conventions and uncertainty affecting hemisphere classification","Southern Hemisphere framing of seasonal and daylight questions","Rules for filtering, comparing and summarising information by hemisphere"],"out":["The southern celestial hemisphere and astronomical sky-coordinate systems","Magnetic hemispheres and the positions of magnetic poles","The Global South as a political or socioeconomic grouping","Detailed models of individual countries, oceans, ecosystems and settlements","Local weather, climate dynamics and ecological seasons","Other planets' hemispheres and Earth's internal geophysical structure"],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Its geographic membership is determined relative to Earth's equator, not by an object's position below the centre of a displayed map.","For signed geographic latitude, locations with latitude below zero are southern; equatorial locations require an explicit boundary convention.","It contains the geographic South Pole and excludes the geographic North Pole, irrespective of longitude convention.","A country or region crossing the equator overlaps both hemispheres; a southern capital or centroid does not establish complete Southern Hemisphere membership.","Membership does not imply membership in the Global South, proximity to a magnetic pole or location in the southern celestial hemisphere."],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"geographic-identity","name":"Geographic identity","description":"Establishes what Southern Hemisphere denotes and which references define it.","layers":[{"id":"terrestrial-referent","name":"Terrestrial referent","description":"Separates the Earth's geographic hemisphere from other uses of southern hemisphere.","findings":[{"id":"earth-geographic-meaning","name":"Earth geographic meaning","description":"Record whether the entry denotes Earth's geographic Southern Hemisphere and what supports that interpretation.","questions":[{"text":"Does this entry explicitly mean the geographic Southern Hemisphere of Earth?","id":"earth-geographic-meaning-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which registry decision or authoritative geographic reference establishes that meaning?","id":"earth-geographic-meaning-q02","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"equator-and-pole","name":"Equator and pole","description":"Establishes the equator as the dividing boundary and the geographic South Pole as the southern endpoint.","findings":[{"id":"southern-half-boundary","name":"Southern half boundary","description":"Record how the geographic half is defined and whether its equatorial boundary is included.","questions":[{"text":"Is Southern Hemisphere membership defined by geographic latitude south of the equator?","id":"southern-half-boundary-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Are points exactly on the equator excluded, shared with the Northern Hemisphere or assigned by a specific application rule?","id":"southern-half-boundary-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"spatial-membership","name":"Spatial membership","description":"Determines how points and extended features relate to the southern geographic half.","layers":[{"id":"point-classification","name":"Point classification","description":"Interprets latitude with enough coordinate context to support a membership decision.","findings":[{"id":"latitude-evidence","name":"Latitude evidence","description":"Record latitude, coordinate reference and precision rather than inferring south from display position or an unexplained sign.","questions":[{"text":"What geographic latitude follows from the supplied coordinate reference system, axis order and hemisphere notation?","id":"latitude-evidence-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Could the location's stated uncertainty place it on either side of the equator?","id":"latitude-evidence-q02","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"crossing-features","name":"Crossing features","description":"Handles countries, islands, routes and other geometries that may cross or touch the equator.","findings":[{"id":"extent-based-membership","name":"Extent-based membership","description":"Record the relationship of the actual feature extent to the hemisphere and distinguish it from centroid or label-point classification.","questions":[{"text":"Does the feature lie wholly south, cross the equator, only touch it or remain outside?","id":"extent-based-membership-q01","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"If a southern proportion is reported, what geometry, measurement method and denominator define it?","id":"extent-based-membership-q02","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Does the intended task require clipping the feature, retaining it as an overlap or applying a documented representative-point rule?","id":"extent-based-membership-q03","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"season-and-daylight-context","name":"Season and daylight context","description":"Controls interpretations that depend on being south of the equator without treating the hemisphere as one climate zone.","layers":[{"id":"seasonal-conventions","name":"Seasonal conventions","description":"Identifies which seasonal framework a hemisphere-sensitive statement uses.","findings":[{"id":"season-label-meaning","name":"Season label meaning","description":"Record the calendar and local applicability behind labels such as southern summer or winter.","questions":[{"text":"Does the seasonal label follow astronomical events, meteorological months or a locally defined calendar?","id":"season-label-meaning-q01","kind":"definition"},{"text":"What source supports applying that convention to the specific Southern Hemisphere location?","id":"season-label-meaning-q02","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is hemisphere membership sufficient for the requested calendar conversion, or is a local seasonal model needed?","id":"season-label-meaning-q03","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"latitude-dependent-daylight","name":"Latitude-dependent daylight","description":"Distinguishes hemisphere-wide orientation from daylight conditions that vary with latitude and date.","findings":[{"id":"daylight-inference-limits","name":"Daylight inference limits","description":"Record the location and time evidence needed before making claims about daylight or polar day and night.","questions":[{"text":"What latitude and date are available for the requested daylight assessment?","id":"daylight-inference-limits-q01","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Does the location require equatorial, mid-latitude or polar treatment in the linked daylight model?","id":"daylight-inference-limits-q02","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"Which daylight calculation or external model should resolve the question beyond hemisphere membership?","id":"daylight-inference-limits-q03","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"hemisphere-based-operations","name":"Hemisphere-based operations","description":"Governs spatial selection and interpretation of information presented for the Southern Hemisphere.","layers":[{"id":"selection-and-aggregation","name":"Selection and aggregation","description":"Defines how geographic records contribute to a Southern Hemisphere dataset or summary.","findings":[{"id":"southern-selection-rule","name":"Southern selection rule","description":"Record boundary handling, overlap treatment and coverage for filters, clips and aggregate results.","questions":[{"text":"Should selection include only wholly southern features, all overlapping features or their clipped southern portions?","id":"southern-selection-rule-q01","kind":"action"},{"text":"How are equatorial records and trans-equatorial features handled when comparing or combining both hemispheres?","id":"southern-selection-rule-q02","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What spatial coverage, observation period and weighting support the reported Southern Hemisphere total or average?","id":"southern-selection-rule-q03","kind":"measurement"}]}]},{"id":"limits-on-hemisphere-inference","name":"Limits on hemisphere inference","description":"Checks whether a proposed interpretation or operation actually follows from geographic membership.","findings":[{"id":"membership-does-not-determine-local-state","name":"Membership does not determine local state","description":"Record additional evidence needed for decisions about climate, jurisdiction, infrastructure or socioeconomic conditions.","questions":[{"text":"What evidence beyond Southern Hemisphere membership supports the proposed local condition or operational decision?","id":"membership-does-not-determine-local-state-q01","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Should the agent proceed using hemisphere membership, seek location-specific evidence or defer to a neighbouring model?","id":"membership-does-not-determine-local-state-q02","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"evidence-and-external-alignment","name":"Evidence and external alignment","description":"What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.","layers":[{"id":"reported-evidence","name":"Reported evidence","description":"Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.","findings":[{"id":"evidence-kinds","name":"Kinds and varieties","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-kinds-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-identifiers","name":"Identifiers and schemes","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-identifiers-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation","name":"Standards and regulation","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-standards-and-regulation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-real-world-use","name":"Real-world use","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-real-world-use-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-measurements","name":"Typical measurements","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-measurements-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards","name":"Failure modes and hazards","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-failure-modes-and-hazards-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-regional-variation","name":"Regional variation","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-regional-variation-q01","kind":"provenance"}]},{"id":"evidence-neighbours","name":"Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart","description":"Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.","questions":[{"text":"Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Southern Hemisphere this model covers, and on what evidence?","id":"evidence-neighbours-q01","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Use the Southern Hemisphere as a frame for latitude, seasons and sky data.","Adjust seasonal advice and dates for southern locations."],"mustNot":["Give northern seasons, holidays or star guides to southern users as if they applied.","Describe southern places as upside down or peripheral.","Assign a place to a hemisphere from a guessed position."],"requiresHuman":["Publishing hemisphere-wide statistics that rank countries or peoples."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Southern users are often served northern defaults in apps and texts.","The south holds most of the world's ocean and Antarctica, both under pressure."],"affectedParties":["People in the Southern Hemisphere","Readers of global data"]},"owners":{"steward":"Nobody owns it; geodetic and astronomical bodies define the equator and sky coordinates.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q1789452","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.southern-hemisphere","Wikidata: Q41228 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41228)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"not-applicable","items":["Reference body: Earth; alternative interpretation requires explicit resolution","Defining geographic references: Earth's equator and geographic South Pole","Geographic latitude: Degrees; southern interior satisfies -90 <= latitude < 0 under a signed convention","Equator inclusion convention: Excluded boundary, shared boundary, or explicitly assigned boundary","Spatial relationship to hemisphere: Wholly within, partially overlapping, boundary-touching, outside, or unresolved","Southern share of a feature: 0-1 fraction or percentage, with area, length, population or another denominator specified","Membership determination state: Determinate, boundary-sensitive, or unresolved","Seasonal interpretation convention: Astronomical, meteorological, locally defined, or unspecified"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"not-applicable","items":[]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["Classify a georeferenced point as southern, equatorial or outside, with uncertainty recorded.","Determine whether a route or area lies wholly or partly south of the equator.","Filter or clip geographic datasets to a declared Southern Hemisphere boundary convention.","Calculate hemisphere-level summaries with explicit coverage, denominators and treatment of crossing features.","Check hemisphere-sensitive season and daylight interpretations against location, date and the relevant convention.","Reject unsupported political, climatic or operational conclusions drawn from southern membership alone."]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Incorrect latitude signs can place a location in the wrong hemisphere and misdirect navigation or spatial analysis.","Applying Northern Hemisphere seasonal assumptions can distort scheduling, environmental interpretation and preparedness decisions.","Treating the hemisphere as climatically uniform can produce unsuitable plans for tropical, temperate and polar regions."]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["ISO 6709, issued by the International Organization for Standardization, specifies the representation of geographic point locations by coordinates for expressing positions south of the equator.","ISO 19111, issued by the International Organization for Standardization, defines referencing by coordinates for spatial data used to locate places within the hemisphere."]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Earth's Southern Hemisphere is used to group locations south of the equator in geography, mapping and Earth science.","It provides broad context for seasonal patterns, solar illumination and comparisons between global regions.","Spatial datasets use latitude and a defined coordinate reference system to determine whether a location belongs to this hemisphere."]}},"sources":[{"title":"Southern Hemisphere","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemisphere","note":"Conventional geographic definition, land/ocean contrast, population share, and everyday naming"},{"title":"IERS Conventions (2010), IERS Technical Note No. 36","url":"","note":"Official definition of the terrestrial and celestial equatorial planes, poles, and latitude/declination that bound the hemisphere"},{"title":"ISO 6709: Standard representation of geographic point location by coordinates","url":"","note":"Sign convention that encodes the Southern Hemisphere as negative geographic latitude"},{"title":"The Antarctic Treaty (1959)","url":"https://www.ats.aq/e/antarctictreaty.html","note":"The principal legal regime covering the high-latitude sector of the terrestrial Southern Hemisphere"},{"title":"Wikidata item Q41228: Southern Hemisphere","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41228","note":"identity and sense of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Does the registry intend Earth's geographic Southern Hemisphere, and how should that interpretation relate to its XCT / XCT.QLT classification?","Does an existing Vercy world model already own this concept, requiring this entry to link to it instead of establishing another model?","Should Vercy prescribe a shared equator boundary convention or require each use to declare its convention?","Does the intended scope cover only Earth's surface, or must membership extend to positions above and below it through a specified spatial reference?","Which authoritative references and neighbouring Vercy models should establish geographic definitions, coordinate handling and seasonal interpretation?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q41228/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q41228/spec.json"],"providers":["Codex","Grok"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-07T10:42:56Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"not-applicable","interaction.recognition":"not-applicable","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T12:16:32+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 3 live sources; review by codex: pass","interaction.properties":"Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.","interaction.recognition":"The Southern Hemisphere is a coordinate-defined region without a visible boundary and cannot be reliably identified from landscape appearance."},"score":1.0}}