BARREL 1G: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra for Radiation Belt Studies, 4-Second Resolution

48 channels of medium time resolution, 4-second Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star project, launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts. This data provided the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation coordinated with in situ satellite observations.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 4-second resolution X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic energy precipitation based on multi-balloon array data.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in situ satellite data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Studying the relationship between ULF-timescale magnetic field variations and electron precipitation based on concurrent magnetometer data.

Strengths

• Data covers a specific energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV across 48 spectral channels.
• Over 50 balloon flights were conducted across four campaigns from 2013 to 2016.
• Measurements were coordinated with comprehensive in situ satellite measurements from the Van Allen Probes mission.

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 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 14:18:17.085038; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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