In the Hadley cell, air rises at the equator and sinks around 30° North. This description best characterizes the Hadley circulation.

• A. Around 60° North
• B. Around 15° North
• C. Around 30° North
• D. At the Equator

Answer: (C)

Rising air at the equator because of intense solar heating sets up a simple tropical circulation: air ascends in the equatorial region, moves poleward aloft, cools, and sinks in the subtropics around 30° latitude. This sinking around 30° North (and similarly around 30° South) creates the subtropical highs and returns surface air toward the equator as the trade winds. So describing the Hadley circulation as having air rise at the equator and sink near 30° latitude captures its defining pattern. The other options point to different atmospheric cells or locations not characteristic of where Hadley subsidence typically occurs—60° North aligns with the Ferrel cell, 15° North isn’t where subsidence commonly happens, and sinking at the Equator isn’t part of the Hadley structure.