BARREL 1G: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 32-Second Resolution

Antarctic and Arctic stratospheric balloon campaigns from 2013 to 2016 collected this data. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star project, measured bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra with a 256-channel NaI scintillator covering 0 to 10 MeV, aggregated to a single variable named SSPC at a 32-second slow time resolution. Over 50 small stratospheric balloons were launched to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts in coordination with the Van Allen Probes.

Use Cases

• Study spatial and temporal variations of relativistic electron precipitation based on the aggregated SSPC X-ray spectra.
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on the multi-balloon array data.
• Correlate balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Analyze the relationship between ULF-timescale magnetic field variations and electron precipitation using the concurrent magnetometer data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016).
• Spectra cover a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV across 256 channels.
• Campaigns were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space-based instruments like EISCAT.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data files are in specialized formats (BIN, PDF, TEXT, HTML), which may require specific tools for analysis.

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 04:23:45.450184; 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).