BARREL 2C: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 4-Second Resolution

48 channels of medium time resolution, 4-second Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 4 MeV. The data was collected by NASA's BARREL mission, which launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts. The mission was designed to augment the Van Allen Probes by providing measurements of spatial and temporal variations in relativistic electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Modeling relativistic electron precipitation events based on the 48-channel X-ray spectra.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal scales of radiation belt losses based on balloon array data from multiple campaigns.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ satellite data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Studying the relationship between ULF-timescale magnetic field variations and electron precipitation using the concurrent magnetometer data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Data covers four distinct balloon campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year observations.
• Spectra are collected at 4-second resolution across 48 energy channels from 0 to 4 MeV.
• Over 50 balloon flights were launched, creating an evolving array for spatial 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

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:29:02.370132; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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