The horse latitudes are located at approximately which latitudes?

The horse latitudes are located at approximately which latitudes?

• A. About 30° North and South
• B. About 60° North and South
• C. At the Equator
• D. At the Poles

Answer: (A)

The winds in this region are tied to how global air circulation organizes itself. Near the equator, warm air rises and creates low pressure and strong, rising winds. As this air moves toward the subtropics and cools, it sinks around 30 degrees north and south, producing a belt of high pressure with very light, calm winds. These calm conditions gave sailors trouble long ago, hence the name horse latitudes. So, the best answer places these latitudes around 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south. They’re not at the equator, where winds rise, and not at the poles, where the circulation patterns are different.

The winds in this region are tied to how global air circulation organizes itself. Near the equator, warm air rises and creates low pressure and strong, rising winds. As this air moves toward the subtropics and cools, it sinks around 30 degrees north and south, producing a belt of high pressure with very light, calm winds. These calm conditions gave sailors trouble long ago, hence the name horse latitudes. So, the best answer places these latitudes around 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south. They’re not at the equator, where winds rise, and not at the poles, where the circulation patterns are different.