Radiation Belts May Be Leaking

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31128, 3 August 1966, Page 23

Radiation Belts May Be Leaking

(NlfM-Renter) MARYLAND (Baltimore).

Electrons may be leaking from the earth’s radiation belts and ‘spiffing” into the Ipwer ionosphere at a dozen points over the South Atlantic Ocean, says Dr. AifredZmuda, a physicist at the applied physics laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Zmuda believes that the high-intensity ionisation could distort local radio comnuini cations. Moreover, he says, the spilling process may help to unlock the mysteries of the radiation belts. The spilling of electrons into the area from 50 to 80 miles above the earth from the Van Allen and artificial radiation belts was described by Dr. Zmuda at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. He said that the falling particles “collide with atmospheric particles and lose their energy by, producing electronDr. Zmutort paper

was based on data gained from a series of experimental Navy satellites launched by the laboratory in 1963 and 1964. The leaks occur over the South Atlantic because the

force of the earth’s magnetic field is lowest there. “Tins permits the electrons to drop altitude into the atmosphere, where they ionise oxygen and' nitrogen molecules and produce areas of ionisation,” Dr. Zmuda said.

The large number and location of the leakage points had not been reported previously. The most important aspect of the ionospheric oddity, Dr. Zmuda said, is that it is adding to a clearer understanding of the spilling <rf electrons. This could lead science to understand how the radiation belts are reduoed and perhaps replenished, he added. The Van Allen belts, named after their discoverer, Dr. James Van Allen, are two natural belts of radiation extending from 600 miles above the earth to at least 12,000 miles. They are interrupted between 4000 and 8000 miles. The artificial radiation belt was caused by an American nuclear blast, on July 9,1962, at an altitute of 250 miles above Johnson Island in the Ptofftw