Nasa reveals Earth’s accidental space shield and the changing face of near-Earth radiation | – The Times of India
Earth’s relationship with space is much more complex than it used to be. Space around our planet was thought to be influenced almost solely by natural forces like the Sun and the Earth’s magnetic field for many years. But the latest studies indicate that humans have had a hand in the matter too, although it was a silent one. The radio waves used for communication on Earth have been leaking out into space. This has led to the formation of an unanticipated barrier that mixes with the ionising radiation surrounding the planet, thereby changing radiation behaviour.This finding, made through the observation of data from NASA’s Van Allen Probes, is a clear indication that mankind has inadvertently modified part of the space that surrounds Earth. However, as a matter of fact, the solar storms that come with huge power can change the radiation belts quickly and in a very visible way, hence the creation of the impermanent structures that may be the cause of satellites’ and space explorers’ dangers. In summary, these discoveries expose the existence of a space around the Earth that is still partly a product of nature and partly the result of human activities. The question is, how long will these two forces remain in balance?
How did humans accidentally create the radiation belt around Earth
For a long time, very low-frequency radio waves have been the means of communication with submarines. These waves can travel very far through the water. Scientists thought that most of those signals remained near the Earth. However, observations indicate that some of them go out into space. There, they affect the electrically charged particles that are trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field.Their interaction is happening far above the Earth in the areas where the Van Allen radiation belts are located. The radio waves have been there all the time, and their influence has changed the way particles move. As a result, a stable structure has been formed which was not there in the initial measurements made in the 1960s. So, the present radiation environment around Earth is somewhat different from what it used to be before the extensive use of radio.
The Van Allen belts explained simply
The Van Allen belts are basically two large rings of high-energy charged particles which are around Earth close to the equator. These particles are trapped by the magnetic field of the Earth and the belts mainly consist of high-energy electrons and protons. The belts, though not visible, are strong enough to harm satellites and cause issues for the astronauts in space.Knowing the variations of the belts is a must for the safe progression of the space voyage and the dependability of the earthbound technology. Slight changes in their form or intensity can still have an effect on the electronic parts of the spacecraft and the communication systems.
An invisible bubble with real effects
The human-made radio waves appear to create a bubble-like boundary within the inner radiation belt. The boundary so formed moves the energetic particles a little farther from the Earth. Although scientists refrain from calling it a force field, they do acknowledge that its effect is quite significant and measurable.The bubble that it is, by pushing particles outward, changes the behaviour of radiation in near-Earth space. This might be one of the reasons why, in recent times, very different observations have been made in comparison to those that were made several decades ago. Besides, it is a demonstration that human technology is capable of producing effects that can last for a very long time in places far away from the planet’s surface.
Solar storms add another layer of complexity
Human radio signals may cause slow and steady changes, but the Sun has the power to change the Earth’s radiation environment in a matter of hours. The huge solar storm that hit Earth in May 2024 was the most intense one in twenty years. It was the cause of magnificent auroras and weak GPS signals for a short period of time.While monitoring such an event, scientists found a very surprising thing. The storm induced two temporary radiation belts between the traditional Van Allen belts that exist around the Earth. These belts were located because of the information from a small NASA satellite that was incidentally operational at the time.
Why the new belts surprised scientists
It’s not the first time that temporary radiation belts have been observed following a major solar storm. Nevertheless, these new belts were different in a few ways. For instance, a particular one was made up of electrons as well as energetic protons, which is highly uncommon. Thus, the implication is that the storm was extraordinarily strong and had an unusual particle makeup.Moreover, the belts were also kept for a much longer time than anticipated. One of them was sustained for over three months, while the other one, with protons, which is highly likely to be even more stable, may still be there. The existence of such long-lived structures poses questions about the formation and disappearance of radiation belts in the current models.
The future of space technology
These findings reveal that the area around Earth is influenced by both human activities and solar events. In a somewhat ironic way, radio communications have been changing the radiation belts without much notice over several decades, whereas solar storms can, in fact, very quickly generate fresh and highly energetic particle regions.This information is vital to the next generation of spaceflight and satellite hardware. Deep understanding of these phenomena may result in the enhanced design of satellites, the safety of astronauts during their missions and the dependability of communication networks. The space around Earth should be considered as a natural environment. It is a common space, which is affected by the Sun, the Earth and mankind.
