BARREL 1T Rate Counter: 4-Second Accumulations of Electron Precipitation Diagnostics

Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched across four campaigns from Antarctica and Sweden to study electron losses from Earth's radiation belts. This Level 2 data product contains 4-second accumulations of uncalibrated rate counter measurements from NaI scintillators, used as diagnostic fields for the BARREL mission. The mission was a NASA Living with a Star project designed to augment the Van Allen Probes by measuring relativistic electron precipitation via bremsstrahlung X-rays.

Use Cases

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

Strengths

• Data originates from over 50 balloon flights across four dedicated campaigns (2013-2016).
• Provides coordinated measurements with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments like EISCAT radar.
• Offers the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation alongside comprehensive in-situ data.

Limitations

• Rate count values are uncalibrated and may wrap near or above 16384 counts/s.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:50:11.325498; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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