Van Allen radiation belt
1
6.9
- noun
- /væn ˈælən ˈreɪdiˌeɪʃən bɛlt/
- Specialized
:
cinturón de radiación de Van Allen
- Scientists study the Van Allen radiation belt to understand how it affects satellite operations in space.
Examples
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The Van Allen radiation belt consists of charged particles that are trapped by Earth's magnetic field.
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Commander, we have a bit of electromagnetic disturbance, probably due to the Van Allen radiation belt.
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The Van Allen radiation belt extends from approximately 600 miles to over 40,000 miles above the Earth's surface.
Synonyms
1
7.4
A ring of charged particles above Earth's atmosphere held by its magnetic field
Surface Forms
Morphology
Van + Allen + radiation + belt
A B1 learner who knows 'radiation' and 'belt' can transparently infer a band or area of radiation (i.e., a 'radiation belt'), so the core noun phrase is partly compositional. However, 'Van Allen' is a proper name and the specific scientific details (charged particles held by Earth's magnetic field) are specialized and not derivable from the parts, so the overall expression is only partially predictable.
Etymology
The Van Allen radiation belt is named after scientist James Van Allen, who discovered rings of charged particles around Earth in the 1950s. Imagine the Earth wearing invisible belts that trap fast particles from the sun, and that's why the name means a ring of trapped radiation that can 'protect' the planet by catching harmful particles.