BARREL SSPC: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 32 s Resolution

2013-2016 balloon campaigns collected 256-channel Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra with a 32-second time resolution, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden to study electron precipitation from Earth's Radiation Belts. Data was collected to augment the Van Allen Probes mission and characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations of electron precipitation based on 32-second resolution X-ray spectra
• Studying the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on data from a balloon array spread across magnetic local time
• Correlating balloon-measured Bremsstrahlung X-rays with in-situ plasma wave and particle measurements from the Van Allen Probes
• Modeling radiation belt electron losses based on direct measurements of precipitating electrons' X-ray signatures

Strengths

• Data covers four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year observations
• Over 50 stratospheric balloon launches provide spatial coverage from Antarctic and Arctic regions
• 256 energy channels offer detailed spectral information within the 0-10 MeV range

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 specific balloon launch sites

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers carried on stratospheric balloons launched from Antarctica and Sweden.

Time Range

2013-2016

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:47:04.298540; freshness should be verified

Geography

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