In May 2024, a massive solar storm rocked the Earth, sparking stunning auroras and leaving behind an unexpected phenomenon a temporary third Van Allen Belt. The Van Allen belts, two donut-shaped regions of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field, are typically stable, but this solar storm introduced a new, temporary layer.
NASA’s Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE) CubeSat detected this additional belt nestled between the two permanent ones. The discovery marks a rare but not unprecedented event—similar occurrences have been recorded, like the solar storm in September 2012, which also created a temporary third belt. This new ring of radiation was likely the result of intense solar activity, where high-energy particles from the Sun were captured by Earth’s magnetosphere.
Solar storms, resulting from strong energy flares within the Sun’s atmosphere, are also known to affect Earth’s magnetic environment. They alter the configuration of the Van Allen belts when they hit Earth’s magnetic field and often produce temporary radiation bands. Although the exact lifetime of the new belt is not known, it could be sustained for months to years, according to scientists.
May 2024’s geomagnetic storm was the strongest in twenty years. Painting mesmerizing auroras in skies over areas never used to seeing them while gifting scientists fresh ideas on Earth’s radiation belt dynamics, this is what it brought. But space storms are not just beautiful phenomena: They can be quite dangerous for Earth’s technology. GPS systems, satellite communications and even power grids can fall prey to disturbance due to extreme space weather.
As scientists continue studying this third Van Allen Belt, they remind us of the significant influence the Sun’s behavior can have on our planet, making it clear that solar storms are more than just beautiful displays—they have real-world consequences.