BARREL 2C: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

The BARREL 2C dataset provides fast time resolution (50 ms) measurements of Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra from six channels (FSPC1a, FSPC1b, FSPC1c, FSPC2, FSPC3, FSPC4) covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV. Collected by NASA's BARREL mission, over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. The data was gathered in coordination with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground and space-based instruments.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 50 ms time resolution X-ray spectra.
• Studying the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on data from a balloon constellation spread across magnetic local time.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Characterizing Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra in the 0-1.5 MeV energy range detected by NaI scintillators.

Strengths

• Provides measurements with 50 ms fast time resolution across six spectral channels.
• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016).
• Campaigns were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other instruments for multi-platform analysis.

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

Balloon campaigns conducted in January-February 2013, 2014, and August 2015, 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:59:55.753942; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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