Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: (a) 1 only

Location right; they are high-pressure belts.

Statement by statement

1. ✓ CORRECT The horse latitudes are the calm belts at ~30–35° N and S.

2. ✗ WRONG They are HIGH-pressure belts (subtropical highs), with sinking air.

The idea

Calm winds can occur where air sinks as well as where it rises. The horse latitudes are the subtropical descending-air belts. Sinking air helps produce high surface pressure and weak winds near the centres of those highs. Calmness alone is therefore not evidence of low pressure.

Air rises in the tropical circulation → It moves poleward aloft → Air descends near the subtropics → Surface pressure is relatively high → Winds can be light near the high’s centre → Outflow supplies trades and westerlies

Why the others are wrong

(b) Accepts low pressure.

(c) Accepts low pressure.

(d) Rejects the location.

The trap

Calm air sounds like low pressure — but it is sinking air in a high.

Elimination technique

Use vertical motion rather than the word “calm”. Horse-latitude descent identifies high pressure, so the low-pressure statement is false; the location statement then selects (a).

Also know

Doldrums are equatorial lows with rising air; horse latitudes are subtropical highs with sinking air. The subtropical belts shift seasonally rather than staying at one exact latitude. Many hot deserts occur in these dry descending-air regions. Low pressure with surface convergence characterises a cyclone, while a high has surface divergence.