DOLDRUMS (apparently a quasi-Lat. form of dialectic Engl. Bold, dolt, really p.p. of dull, to stupefy, from dull, AS.. OS., dot, Ger. ton, stupid, mad). A name given by sailors to that part of the ocean near the equator in which calms and light baffling winds prevail with hot, sultry air, local squalls, thunder, and rain. In the doldrums sailing vessels heat about. for weeks and they were formerly the dread of those vessels that had to cross the equator. The sailing directions and charts published by Maury were the first to give comprehensive directions for avoiding those parts of the ocean most troubled by the doldrums. The doldrums proper oscillate north and south of the equator with the season of the year. They lie farthest north in July, August, and September, and farther south in January, February. and March. In the Atlantic Ocean in February, the region having most characteristic doldrums ex tends between the equator and latitude 5° N. and between longitudes 50° and 30° \V., whereas in August it extends between latitudes 5° and 10° N. and longitudes 30' and 45° W. In the Pacific Ocean. in January. the doldrums region extends. with but few interruptions, between the equator and latitude 15° S. and from longitude 130° E.
eastward to longitude 145° W. In July it ex tends over two regions somewhat separated from each other, namely from latitude 10° N. to lati tude 10° S. and from longitude 130° to 165° E., and again from longitude 145° to about R0° W., and from latitude 5° to 15° N. The region of the doldrums is characterized by the highest tempera tures and moistures, coupled with the feeblest winds that occur anywhere on the ocean; the ocean surface in these regions is of a glassy smoothness. often bearing a thin layer of oil and waste left by passing vessels and tloatin” for a long time on the surface. .1n irruption of cool air into the doldrums has been suggested as the initial step in the formation of a rainy region in which develop the West Indian hurricanes. Al though there is but little horizontal motion of the air within the doldrums, yet there appears to he considerable vertical motion. The doldrums region lies between the region of northeast and southeast trade winds and is the apparent start ing-point of the great upper currents that are supposed to flow from the equatorial regions north and south toward either pole.