BARREL MSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

Antarctic and Arctic stratospheric balloon campaigns collected 48-channel X-ray spectra to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star project, launched over 50 balloons from Halley Bay, SANAE IV, and Kiruna between 2013 and 2016. Data provides 4-second medium time resolution measurements of bremsstrahlung X-rays from 0 to 4 MeV.

Use Cases

• Modeling electron loss from radiation belts based on bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra
• Characterizing spatial scales of precipitation at relativistic energies using balloon array data
• Correlating precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes
• Studying ULF-timescale magnetic field variations using the DC magnetometer data mentioned

Strengths

• Provides the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation alongside comprehensive in-situ measurements
• Over 50 stratospheric balloon launches conducted across four campaigns from 2013 to 2016
• 48-channel spectra with a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV

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 with 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 04:17:18.175008; freshness should be verified

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay (Antarctica), SANAE IV (Antarctica), and Kiruna (Sweden).