BARREL 1T: Tri-axial Magnetometer Data from Stratospheric Balloon Campaigns

Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched across four campaigns to study electron losses from Earth's radiation belts. This dataset contains three-axis DC magnetometer measurements at 0.25-second resolution, collected at about 30 km altitude near the Antarctic and Arctic circles. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star project, provided the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation coordinated with in-situ satellite data.

Use Cases

• Analyze ULF-timescale magnetic field variations based on tri-axial fluxgate magnetometer data
• Study spatial and temporal patterns of relativistic electron precipitation based on coordinated balloon and satellite observations
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation events based on data from a slowly moving balloon array
• Model magnetospheric processes based on magnetic field measurements from stratospheric altitudes

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four major campaigns (2013-2016)
• Measurements taken at stratospheric altitude (~30 km) providing a unique observational platform
• First balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation coordinated with comprehensive in-situ satellite data

Limitations

• Data are neither gain corrected nor despun, requiring additional processing for some analyses
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count and exact file sizes are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measurements from tri-axial DC magnetometers carried on small stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in January-February 2013, 2014 (Antarctica) and August 2015, 2016 (Sweden).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:47:50.592625; freshness should be verified

Geography

Launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV bases in Antarctica, and the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden.