BARREL 2Q Rate Counter Data: Balloon Measurements of Radiation Belt Electron Precipitation

BARREL 2Q Rate Counter (RCNT) NaI Scintillator Diagnostics, Level 2, 4 s Data consists of rate count measurements from a NASA balloon mission. The BARREL Mission was a multiple-balloon investigation designed to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts, with campaigns conducted from Antarctica in 2013-2014 and from Sweden in 2015-2016. Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched, providing measurements of relativistic electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 4-second rate count accumulations.
• Studying the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on balloon array measurements across magnetic local time.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes.
• Investigating ULF-timescale magnetic field variations using the DC magnetometer data mentioned in the mission description.

Strengths

• Data is part of a coordinated NASA Living with a Star mission, providing the first balloon measurements alongside comprehensive in-situ data.
• Over 50 balloon flights were conducted across four campaigns, offering multiple observational periods.
• Measurements were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments like EISCAT radar.

Limitations

• Rate count data are diagnostic fields with uncalibrated energy ranges and may wrap near or above 16384 counts/s.
• 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 rate counters on stratospheric balloons carrying X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 12:51:36.729492; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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