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DGCA CPL METEOROLOGY · ASKED IN REAL EXAMS

General circulation

6 questions on this topic, recalled by candidates after DGCA sittings between 2021 and 2026. Together they were asked 10 times; the most repeated come first. Pick a year to see only what was asked that year.

Asked in:
Q1Asked in 3 sittings:Oct 2021 · Attempt 2Sep 2023 · Regular 03Oct 2023 · OLODE

A part of the sinking air over the subtropical highs flows towards the equator, turning west (in the northern hemisphere) due to the Coriolis force. This surface air is called

  1. A.Trade winds
  2. B.Westerlies
  3. C.Doldrums
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A. Trade winds

Air sinking at the subtropical highs flows back towards the equator at the surface. Coriolis turns it west, so it becomes the NE trade wind in the northern hemisphere and the SE trade wind in the southern.

Q2Asked in 2 sittings:Oct 2023 · OLODEMar 2026 · Regular 01

Rising air creates calms (doldrums) in the equatorial region, called

  1. A.ITCZ
  2. B.Horse latitudes
  3. C.Equatorial doldrums
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C. Equatorial doldrums

Along the equatorial low the air mostly rises, so surface winds are light and variable - the doldrums. The horse latitudes are the calms of the subtropical highs near 30 degrees.

Our independent check found that more than one option can be argued for, as worded in the recall. The key gives the answer most references support.

Q3Asked in 2 sittings:May 2024 · OLODESep 2025 · Regular 03

The horse latitudes are

  1. A.The equatorial low-pressure belt
  2. B.The subtropical high-pressure belts around 30 N and S
  3. C.The polar highs
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B. The subtropical high-pressure belts around 30 N and S

Under the subtropical highs the air sinks and the winds are light. Sailing ships were becalmed there - hence the name.

Q4Asked in 2 sittings:Oct 2023 · OLODESep 2025 · Regular 03

The zonal westerlies are

  1. A.The easterly trade winds
  2. B.The prevailing westerly winds of the mid-latitudes
  3. C.The monsoon flow
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B. The prevailing westerly winds of the mid-latitudes

Between about 30 and 60 degrees, and through the upper troposphere, the general flow is from the west - the zonal westerlies, strongest in the jet streams.

Q5Asked in:Sep 2025 · Regular 03

The trade winds are

  1. A.The westerlies of the mid-latitudes
  2. B.Easterly winds blowing from the subtropical highs towards the ITCZ
  3. C.The polar easterlies
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B. Easterly winds blowing from the subtropical highs towards the ITCZ

Air flows from the subtropical highs towards the equatorial low and is turned by the Coriolis force: NE trades in the Northern Hemisphere, SE trades in the Southern, meeting at the ITCZ.

Q6Asked in 0 sittingsalso in an undated previous-attempt paper

Air moving polewards piles up in the subtropics and forms a surface high pressure belt called the

  1. A.Subtropical high
  2. B.Polar high
  3. C.Equatorial high
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A. Subtropical high

Air rising at the equator moves polewards aloft, cools, converges and subsides near 30 ° latitude. That subsidence builds the subtropical high pressure belt at the surface - the horse latitudes - and from it the trade winds flow back towards the equator while the westerlies flow polewards.

These are candidates' recollections, not official DGCA papers: wording can differ from the paper as set. Every answer was checked against the DGCA CARs, AIP India, ICAO documents or worked calculation (independent check completed 17 Oct 2026). Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it against the source.