January 3, 2012 • 4 Comments

Difference Between Doldrums And Horse Latitudes

Doldrums vs. Horse Latitudes

Doldrums and horse latitudes are ocean regions on the Earth. Specifically, doldrums are ocean
belts near the equator. The region is characterized as having little to no wind. This lack of wind has
been a problem in sea exploration in the last centuries since ships cannot move if there is no wind.

Doldrums can be found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Doldrums are located five degrees
to the north and five degrees to the south near the equator. The lack of wind in the doldrums can
last for a long period of time. This happens because the sun’s intense heat contributes to the
warming of the air, and it climbs into the atmosphere.
Due to the rising moist air, doldrums can also develop into extreme weather like massive storms,
squalls, thunderstorms, or hurricanes. This resulting weather also disrupts a ship’s movement and
journey. Both the lack of wind and extreme weather cause casualties at sea by prompting low
supplies, starvation, sickness, and eventually death.

The term “doldrums” originated from the dull or slow-moving experiences of sailors in this area
during the 18th century. These adjectives were later adapted and used to describe the place.

On the other hand, horse latitudes are also two ocean belts located near the equator. They are
placed at exactly 30 degrees north and south latitude. Like doldrums, the areas of horse latitudes
have clear skies with little or low airflow.

Horse latitudes are also called subtropical latitudes. They are under a high-pressure ridge area
called a subtropical ridge. Unlike doldrums, horse latitudes create dry environments and mostly
deserts like the Sahara Desert, Atacama Desert, Kalahari Desert, and the Australian Desert. Other
areas that horse latitudes created are the southern areas of the United States, northern Mexico,
and the Middle East.

Like doldrums, horse latitudes have an unusual origin. The name can refer either to the horse effigy
or live horse thrown overboard by sailors crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The horses were thrown
overboard to conserve food and water. In addition, the ship’s load is lightened, enabling it to sail at
more desirable speeds. The Spanish were credited for throwing the live horses overboard.

Summary:

1.Both doldrums and horse latitudes are ocean areas characterized by weak or nonexistent airflow
for a prolonged period of time. Both areas are also located in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In
addition, both places are near the equator.
2.Doldrums and horse latitudes are situated in different locations near the equator. Doldrums are
placed at five degrees north and south of the equator. Meanwhile, horse latitudes are located at 30
degrees north and south latitude.
3.The air existing in doldrums is moist, while horse latitudes’ air is dry.
4.Doldrums can cause extreme weather like squalls, thunderstorms, and hurricanes. On the other
hand, horse latitudes cause the formation of deserts and other hot and dry areas.
5.Human casualties were also an effect of doldrums and horse latitudes in ship exploration. Lack
of wind for a long period of time can cause starvation, meager supplies, sickness, and death of the
ship’s crew. In the case of doldrums, human casualties can double if an extreme storm or hurricane
appears. In addition to casualties, the resulting weather disturbance can cause shipwrecks and
castaways.
6.Both doldrums and horse latitudes have been attributed as places or causes of delayed ships.
Doldrums originated as a description of sea life in the area, while the term “horse latitudes” was
coined due to the practice of throwing live horses or horse effigies overboard by early sailors to
promote ship movement and speed.

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Categories: Geography
Tags: doldrums

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4 responses
jagannath nayak
January 27, 2012

quite good, remarkably explanation.

Reply

Mousumi
June 13, 2017

Beautifully explained…thank you so much

Reply

Surya Kant
November 15, 2017

Very good explanation

Reply
 Dan G.
September 14, 2018

Item 4 in the summary says that the Doldrums “can cause extreme weather like . . . . and hurricanes”.
This seems to be quite incorrect as there is very little in the way of net Coriolis effect so close to the
equator. Any low pressure center there would draw air parcels from both north and south sides of the
equator and their Coriolis effects would therefore cancel out . . . preventing the spin-up of a
hurricane. No doubt there can be extreme weather in the Doldrums, but a hurricane seems
impossible.

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