BARREL 2N: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra for Radiation Belt Studies, 32-Second Resolution

256 channels of slow time resolution (32-second) Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI scintillator, covering a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV. The data was collected by the BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, involving over 50 stratospheric balloon flights launched from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016. The mission was designed to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts and augment the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Study spatial and temporal variations of relativistic electron precipitation based on the balloon array measurements.
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on the multi-balloon constellation data.
• Correlate X-ray spectrometer measurements with in situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Analyze the relationship between ULF-timescale magnetic field variations and electron precipitation using the concurrent magnetometer data.

Strengths

• Data covers a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV across 256 spectral channels.
• Over 50 stratospheric balloon flights were launched across four campaigns from 2013 to 2016.
• Mission was coordinated with the Van Allen Probes and other ground/space-based instruments like EISCAT radar.

Limitations

• 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

Measured by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

Balloon campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:03:23.993007; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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