Earth’s Magnetic Field

( Van Allen Radiation Belts, 1958)

Eric Angat
Teacher
Van Allen radiation belts are doughnut-
shaped zones of highly energetic charged
particles trapped at high altitudes in the
magnetic field of Earth. The zones were
named for James A. Van Allen, the American
physicist who discovered them in 1958, using
data transmitted by the U.S. Explorersatellite
.
Nov. 26, 2014
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NASA's Van Allen Probes Spot an Impenetrable Barrier in Space
Two donuts of seething radiation that surround Earth, called the Van Allen radiation belts, have
been found to contain a nearly impenetrable barrier that prevents the fastest, most energetic
electrons from reaching Earth.
This animated gif shows how particles move through Earth’s radiation belts, the large donuts
around Earth. The sphere in the middle shows a cloud of colder material called the plasmasphere.
New research shows that the plasmasphere helps keep fast electrons from the radiation belts
away from Earth.
Credits: NASA/Goddard/Scientific Visualization Studio
Van Allen radiation belt
The Van Allen radiation belts contained within
Earth’s magnetosphere. Pressure from the
solar wind is responsible for the asymmetrical
shape of the magnetosphere and the belts.
the Earth's outer core is in a state of turbulent
convection. This sets up a process that is a bit like a
naturally occurring electrical generator, where the
convective kinetic energy is converted to electrical and
magnetic energy. Basically, the motion of the
electrically conducting iron in the presence of the
Earth's magnetic field induces electric currents. Those
electric currents generate their own magnetic field,
and as the result of this internal feedback, the process
is self-sustaining so long as there is an energy source
sufficient to maintain convection.