Lightning Makes Radiation Belts Safer

[Fraser]

SUMMARY: NASA scientists have finally worked out why there's a safe zone in the Earth's radiation belts, thousands of km above the surface. It turns out that lightning in the lower atmosphere generates radio waves which interact with radiation around the Earth, removing some of its energy and changing the direction of charged particles. This safe zone could be used as a haven by satellites to reduce the damage they take while operating in these regions.

View full article
What do you think about this story? post your comments below.

[iron4]

Interesting, the Van Allen Belt Slot is certainly a haven for satellites orbiting Earth

I'm starting to regard lightnings with awe (I read recently that they are also responsible for some gamma ray bursts occurring in the athmosphere). Story here

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/...hessi_tgf.html