magnetic field
Figure 22.24 The Van Allen radiation belts are two regions in which energetic charged particles are trapped in the Earths magnetic field. One belt lies about 300 km above the Earths surface, the other about 16,000 km. Charged particles in these belts migrate along magnetic field lines and are partially reflected away from the poles by the stronger fields there. The charged particles that enter the atmosphere are replenished by the Sun and sources in deep outer space.