abstract:The plasmasphere, or inner magnetosphere, is a region of the Earth's magnetosphere consisting of low energy (cool) plasma. It is located above the ionosphere.
Such "chorus waves" forminaregionof space that liesjustabove theplasmasphere, a section of Earth'sprotectivemagneticbubblefilled withplasma, orelectrically chargedgas.
The Radio Plasma Imager instrument provides a three-dimensional view of the plasmasphere by sounding it with radio pulses, like an ultrasound image of the human body.
When the plasmasphere gets hit, some of the plasma dissipates, making it smaller, but that dissipation prevents too much intense radiation from hitting the inner belt.