Encircling Earth are the Van Allen radiation belts—vast, doughnut-shaped rings of highly energetic charged particles, mostly originating from the sun, that are trapped by our planet’s magnetic field, or magnetosphere. The belts prevent dangerous radiation from reaching Earth’s atmosphere, but can also pose hazards to nearby spacecraft. Encircling Earth are the Van Allen radiation belts—vast, doughnut-shaped rings of highly energetic charged particles, mostly originating from the sun, that are trapped by our planet’s magnetic field, or magnetosphere. The belts prevent dangerous radiation from reaching Earth’s atmosphere, but can also pose hazards to nearby spacecraft. Planetary Sciences Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories
Audible storm waves could turbocharge Earth’s radiation belts
