BARREL 2E: Tri-axial Magnetometer Data from Balloon Campaigns

The BARREL mission conducted balloon campaigns in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 from Antarctica and Sweden. Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched, carrying tri-axial fluxgate magnetometers to measure magnetic field variations at about 30 km altitude. The data, provided by NASA, are Level 2, 0.25-second resolution measurements without gain correction or despinning.

Use Cases

• Analyzing ULF-timescale magnetic field variations based on tri-axial DC magnetometer measurements.
• Studying spatial and temporal scales of relativistic electron precipitation based on coordinated balloon and satellite observations.
• Characterizing magnetic field perturbations in the stratosphere based on data collected near the Antarctic and Arctic circles.
• Correlating balloon-based magnetic field data with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four separate campaigns.
• Provides 0.25-second resolution magnetic field measurements.
• Coordinated with multiple satellite missions and ground-based instruments, including the Van Allen Probes.

Limitations

• Data are not gain corrected or despun, requiring additional processing for some analyses.
• 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

Measurements from tri-axial fluxgate magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:23:24.782162; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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