In which atmospheric layer are the Van Allen radiation belts located?

The Van Allen radiation belts are located in the exosphere, which is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere. This region starts at approximately 600 kilometers above the Earth's surface and extends out into space. The Van Allen belts consist of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, trapped by Earth's magnetic field. The exosphere is crucial for these belts as it is where the influence of the magnetic field effectively manages the flow of these particles and their interactions with solar wind and cosmic radiation.

In contrast, the stratosphere, troposphere, and mesosphere are all layers that lie below the exosphere and have different characteristics and functions. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer which protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, while the troposphere is the layer where we experience weather and where most of the atmosphere's mass is found. The mesosphere is situated between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and is known for being the layer where meteorites burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Each of these layers plays a distinct role in atmospheric science but does not accommodate the phenomena observed in the Van Allen radiation belts.