What do we call the zone where trade winds converge and cause calm weather?

The zone where trade winds converge and create calm weather is known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). This area is characterized by the meeting of the northeast and southeast trade winds near the equator. The convergence of these winds causes the air to rise, leading to a decrease in surface wind speeds and often resulting in cloud formation and precipitation.

This phenomenon occurs because the warm air in the region is less dense and rises, creating a zone of lower pressure. The rising air cools and condenses, which can lead to the formation of thunderstorms and rainfall, but it also creates a relatively calm region at the surface, as the winds cancel each other out. This is why the ITCZ is often referred to as a belt of calm tropical weather.

The other options refer to different meteorological phenomena. For example, the horse latitudes are associated with areas of high pressure, where winds are light and variable, but they are located at about 30 degrees north and south of the equator, rather than at the equator itself. The subtropical high-pressure zone typically experiences sinking air and therefore tends to have more stable and clear weather, not the convergence indicated in the question. The equatorial divergence zone refers to areas where air spreads