The “Doldrums” refers to the narrowest, calmest part of the equatorial low-pressure belt, specifically between 5° North and 5° South. In this region, the Trade Winds from both hemispheres meet and cancel each other out, resulting in a belt of extremely calm winds, stagnant air and sudden, intense thunderstorms known as “squalls.” ANSWER: (B) 5°N – 5° South
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The Doldrums (a maritime term for “dull” or “sluggish”) is a zone within the ITCZ where the air is moving primarily upward. Because there is very little horizontal wind, sailing ships in the past would often get “stuck” here for days or weeks. While the broader low-pressure belt extends to 10°, the most profound “calm” is found in this 5° N to 5° S band. It is a region of high humidity and high temperature where the air is almost always saturated, leading to the daily development of massive convective clouds and heavy rain.
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