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

BARREL 2K provides medium time resolution (4-second) X-ray spectra from balloon-borne instruments. The data was collected by NASA's BARREL mission during four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, launched from Antarctica and Sweden. It includes 48 channels of bremsstrahlung X-ray data combined into a single variable named MSPC.

Use Cases

• Analyze relativistic electron precipitation events based on bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra.
• Study spatial and temporal variations in radiation belt losses based on balloon array measurements.
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on multi-balloon observations.
• Correlate precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from other missions.
• Model electron loss processes from the magnetosphere based on stratospheric X-ray measurements.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon launches across four campaigns.
• Provides measurements coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space instruments.
• Offers the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation alongside comprehensive in-situ data.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the Antarctic and Arctic launch sites.

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 03:50:23.793241; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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