BARREL 2B: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 0.05 s Resolution

Six channels of fast time resolution (50 ms) Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra from the BARREL balloon mission, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV. The data was collected by NASA to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts, with campaigns conducted from Antarctica in 2013-2014 and from Sweden in 2015-2016. Over 50 stratospheric balloon flights were launched across the four campaigns.

Use Cases

• Modeling relativistic electron precipitation events based on the fast (50 ms) time resolution X-ray measurements.
• Analyzing spatial scales of electron precipitation based on data from the multi-balloon constellation described.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray spectra with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Studying temporal variations in Bremsstrahlung X-ray production across six energy channels (FSPC1a-FSPC4).

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms time resolution across six X-ray energy channels.
• Data collection involved over 50 balloon flights across four separate campaigns.
• Campaigns were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space instruments.

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 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 13:33:27.637735; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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