Earth has two such belts and sometimes others. The belts were discovered byJames Van Allen. Earth's two main belts extend from thealtitude of about500 to 58,000km (310 to 36,040mi)[1]
Most of the particles that form the belts are thought to come fromsolar wind and other particles bycosmic rays.[2] By trapping the solar wind, the magnetic field deflects those energetic particles and protectsthe atmosphere from destruction.
The belts are in the inner region of Earth'smagnetosphere. The belts trap energeticelectrons andprotons. The belts endangersatellites, which must have their sensitive components protected with adequate shielding if they spend much time in that zone. In 2013,NASA reported that theVan Allen Probes had discovered a third radiation belt, which was observed for four weeks. It was destroyed by a powerful, interplanetaryshock wave from theSun.[3]
