Van Allen radiation belts

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Van Allen radiation belts Two rings of radiation trapped by the Earth's magnetic field in the upper atmosphere. The belts contain high-energy, charged particles. The inner belt (of electrons and protons) extends from c.1000 to 4000km (600–2500mi) above the Equator. The outer belt (of electrons) extends from c.15,000 to 25,000km (9000–15,000mi). It is thought that the particles come from solar flares carried by the solar wind. The belts were discovered in 1958 by the US physicist James Van Allen.

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