Earth’s magnetic field

• Magnetic field traps charged particles TA59

  • (James) Van Allen radiation belts
    • discovered by first satellites in 1958
  • Solar flares lead to Aurorae
    • charged particles from sun
      • 2-3 days to reach earth
    • overload the radiation belts
    • particles hit upper atmosphere
      • they are charged, so they follow the field lines
      • field lines intersect atmosphere near N and S poles
        • Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis
      • Excited atoms and molecules give characteristic emission lines
        • O => green 576 nm line
        • N+ => red 630 nm line
      • beautiful moving curtains of colored light
        • check it out

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