BARREL 1B: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

48 channels of medium time resolution, 4 s, Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. The BARREL Mission was a NASA Living with a Star investigation using over 50 stratospheric balloons launched from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts. Data was collected to augment the Van Allen Probes mission by measuring the spatial and temporal variations of electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Modeling electron precipitation from radiation belts based on bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra
• Analyzing spatial and temporal variations of electron loss based on balloon constellation data
• Correlating precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave measurements mentioned in the description
• Characterizing the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies

Strengths

• 48 spectral channels provide multi-energy resolution
• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns
• Campaigns coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space instruments

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in January-February 2013, 2014, August 2015, and August 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 04:30:17.638340; freshness should be verified

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay, Antarctica; SANAE IV base, Antarctica; and Esrange Space Center, Kiruna, Sweden.