BARREL 2Q: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 0.05s Resolution

Six channels of fast time resolution (50 ms) Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV. The data was collected by the NASA BARREL Mission, a multiple-balloon investigation from 2013 to 2016 designed to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts in coordination with the Van Allen Probes. Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched from Antarctica and Sweden, providing measurements of relativistic electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 50 ms resolution X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic energy precipitation based on multi-balloon constellation data.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes.
• Studying the relationship between magnetic field variations and electron precipitation based on concurrent magnetometer data.

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms time resolution across six spectral channels (FSPC1a, FSPC1b, FSPC1c, FSPC2, FSPC3, FSPC4).
• Data collected over four campaigns (2013-2016) involving over 50 balloon launches.
• Designed to provide coordinated measurements with the comprehensive Van Allen Probes mission.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale statistical analysis.

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 12:52:44.190630; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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