"The Van Allen Belts"

"The Van Allen Belts"

"A radiation belt is a layer of energetic charged particles that is held in place around a magnetized planet, such as the Earth, by the 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. The main belts extend from an altitude of about 1,000 to 60,000 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.[1] The belts are located in the inner region of the Earth's magnetosphere. The belts contain energetic electrons and protons. Other nuclei, such as alpha particles, are less prevalent. The belts endanger satellites, which must protect their sensitive components with adequate shielding if they spend significant time in the radiation belts. In 2013, NASA reported that the Van Allen Probes had discovered a transient, third radiation belt, which was observed for four weeks until destroyed by a powerful, interplanetary shock wave from the Sun.[2]" (to be continued) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_radiation_belt
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Your insights on the purpose of "The Van Allen Belts"?

It is mistaken to assume that everything has a "purpose."

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Your insights on the purpose of "The Van Allen Belts"?

"Gliese 251 is a nearby red dwarf star of spectral type M4.0, located in constellation Gemini at 18.22 light-years from Earth."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliese_251

Your insights on the purpose of Gliese 251?

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
[b]"The Van Allen Belts"

"A radiation belt is a layer of energetic charged particles that is held in place around a magnetized planet, such as the Earth, by the 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 ...[text shortened]... an_Allen_radiation_belt
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Your insights on the purpose of "The Van Allen Belts"?[/b]

There is no 'purpose' to the belts, they are an effect, the interaction of Earth's magnetic field and the radiation sleeting in from the sun. The magnetic field of Earth is a protective shield that causes such radiation and particles to spiral around the field lines and thus away from Earth. Some of that stuff follows the lines of magnetic force where they concentrate at the north and south poles which gives rise to the northern and southern lights.