BARREL 1J: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 4-Second Resolution

BARREL 1J X-ray Spectrometer (MSPC) data provides 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 dataset was collected by NASA's BARREL mission, which launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. This Level 2 data product combines all channels into a single variable named MSPC.

Use Cases

• Studying spatial and temporal variations of electron precipitation from radiation belts based on balloon-borne X-ray spectrometer measurements.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on coordinated balloon array observations.
• Correlating balloon-based precipitation measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Analyzing Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra in the 0-4 MeV range to infer properties of precipitating relativistic electrons.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016).
• Provides 4-second time resolution spectra across 48 energy channels.
• Coordinated with comprehensive in-situ measurements from the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments.

Limitations

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

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 and August 2015, 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 14:13:02.450981; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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