BARREL 1D Rate Counter: 4-Second Accumulations of X-Ray Counts from Stratospheric Balloons

Four campaigns from 2013 to 2016 collected data from over 50 stratospheric balloons launched from Antarctica and Sweden. The dataset contains 4-second accumulations of rate counter measurements from NaI scintillators, used to diagnose bremsstrahlung X-rays from precipitating relativistic electrons. It was produced by NASA as part of the BARREL mission to study electron losses from Earth's radiation belts.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 4-second count accumulations.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic energy precipitation based on balloon array measurements.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray diagnostics with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes.
• Studying ULF-timescale magnetic field variations using the complementary DC magnetometer data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Data spans four distinct campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year coverage.
• Over 50 balloon payloads were launched, offering a spatial array across magnetic local time.
• Measurements were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments like EISCAT radar.

Limitations

• Rate count values are uncalibrated and have an energy range that is not specified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may wrap near or above 16384 counts/s, which could affect high-count measurements.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measurements from rate counters on small stratospheric balloons carrying X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers.

Time Range

2013-2016

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 04:25:30.572818; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV base in Antarctica (2013-2014) and Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden (2015-2016).