Why in news
In a paper published in the journal Science Advances, scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks reported discovering a new type of whistler wave produced by a previously unknown wave generation mechanism.
They found lightning energy injected into the ionosphere at low latitudes could get reflected like a light from a mirror into the magnetosphere.
This contradicted previous claims that energy insertion at low latitudes can’t escape the ionosphere.
What is Van Allen radiation belts
The Van Allen radiation belts are two doughnut-shaped zones of highly charged particles that surround the Earth.
They were discovered by American astrophysicist James Van Allen in 1958.
These belts are located in the Earth's magnetosphere, which extends from about 1,000 to 60,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
The belts are composed mainly of electrons and protons trapped by Earth’s magnetic field
They protect Earth from harmful solar and cosmic radiation by trapping charged particles that could otherwise damage living organisms and electronics.
There are two main belts
Inner Belt: Extends from about 600 to 12,000 kilometers above the Earth and is primarily composed of protons.
Outer Belt: Extends from about 13,500 to 60,000 kilometers above the Earth and contains mainly electrons.
Understanding these belts is crucial for planning space missions and protecting spacecraft and astronauts from radiation damage.
The belts can influence satellite operations and communications.
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