<P> A Van Allen radiation belt is a zone of energetic charged particles , most of which originate from the solar wind that is captured by and held around a planet by that planet 's magnetic field . The Earth has two such belts and sometimes others may be temporarily created . The discovery of the belts is credited to James Van Allen , and as a result the Earth 's belts are known as the Van Allen belts . Earth 's two main belts extend from an altitude of about 500 to 58,000 kilometers above the surface in which region radiation levels vary . Most of the particles that form the belts are thought to come from solar wind and other particles by cosmic rays . By trapping the solar wind , the magnetic field deflects those energetic particles and protects the Earth 's atmosphere from destruction . </P>
<P> A Van Allen radiation belt is a zone of energetic charged particles , most of which originate from the solar wind that is captured by and held around a planet by that planet 's magnetic field . The Earth has two such belts and sometimes others may be temporarily created . The discovery of the belts is credited to James Van Allen , and as a result the Earth 's belts are known as the Van Allen belts . Earth 's two main belts extend from an altitude of about 500 to 58,000 kilometers above the surface in which region radiation levels vary . Most of the particles that form the belts are thought to come from solar wind and other particles by cosmic rays . By trapping the solar wind , the magnetic field deflects those energetic particles and protects the Earth 's atmosphere from destruction . </P>
earths entire equatorial climate zone is generally a belt around earth that has
earths entire equatorial climate zone is generally a belt around earth that has
energetic charged particles
energetic charged particles