Doldrums
are regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that have little if any wind. Doldrums
are caused by solar radiation from the sun, as sunlight beams down directly on
area around the equator. This heating causes the air to warm and rise straight
up rather than blow horizontally. The result is little or no wind, sometimes
for weeks on end. The Doldrums are located a little north of the equator, but
the effects can be felt from 5 degrees north of the equator to 5 degrees south
of it. This was a particular problem for sailors in the past when they depended
on the winds to propel their ships. It was a problem that could be potentially
deadly.