In March 2014, a pattern resembling "zebra stripes" was observed in the radiation belts by the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment (RBSPICE) onboard Van Allen Probes. The initial theory proposed in 2014 was that—due to the tilt in Earth's magnetic field axis—the planet's rotation generated an oscillating, weak electric field that permeates through the entire inner radiation belt. A 2016 study instead concluded that the zebra stripes were an imprint of ionospheric winds on radiation belts.
in march 2014 a pattern resembling "zebra stripes" was observed in the radiation belts by the radiation belt storm probes ion composition experiment (rbspice) onboard van allen probes the initial theory proposed in 2014 was that—due to the tilt in earth's magnetic field axis—the planet's rotation generated an oscillating weak electric field that permeates through the entire inner radiation belt a 2016 study instead concluded that the zebra stripes were an imprint of ionospheric winds on radiation belts