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

BARREL was a NASA Living with a Star mission that launched over 50 stratospheric balloons to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Its X-ray spectrometer collected 48-channel, 4-second resolution bremsstrahlung spectra in the 0-4 MeV energy range during campaigns from 2013 to 2016. Data was collected from launch sites in Antarctica and Sweden to coordinate with the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Analyzing relativistic electron precipitation events based on 4-second resolution X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of 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 ULF-timescale magnetic field variations based on the DC magnetometer data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Data was collected during four coordinated campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year coverage.
• Spectra have a nominal energy range of 0 to 4 MeV across 48 channels.
• Campaigns were designed to coordinate with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments like EISCAT.

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 approximately 20 kg stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:41:30.824105; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV base in Antarctica (2013-2014) and Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden (2015-2016).