<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> The belts are located in the inner region of the Earth's magnetosphere . The belts trap energetic electrons and protons . Other nuclei, such as alpha particles, are less prevalent . The belts endanger satellites, which must have their sensitive components protected with adequate shielding if they spend significant time in that zone . In 2013, NASA reported that the Van Allen Probes had discovered a transient, third radiation belt, which was observed for four weeks until it was destroyed by a powerful, interplanetary shock wave from the Sun . </P>

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