BARREL 2X: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 32-Second Resolution

BARREL 2X X-ray Spectrometer data provides 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 dataset was produced by NASA's BARREL mission, which launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Observations were collected at stratospheric altitudes near the Antarctic and Arctic circles to coordinate with the Van Allen Probes mission and other instruments.

Use Cases

• Study spatial and temporal variations of electron precipitation based on balloon-borne X-ray spectrometer measurements.
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on the multi-balloon array data.
• Correlate balloon observations of bremsstrahlung X-rays with in-situ measurements of plasma waves and energetic particles from the Van Allen Probes.
• Analyze ULF-timescale magnetic field variations in coordination with X-ray spectral data from the described DC magnetometers.

Strengths

• Data covers four campaigns from 2013 to 2016 with over 50 balloon launches, providing multi-year temporal coverage.
• Spectra are measured across 256 channels covering a 0 MeV to 10 MeV energy range with 32-second time resolution.
• Observations were coordinated with comprehensive in-situ measurements from the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-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 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 launched from Antarctica and Sweden.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in January-February 2013 and 2014, and August 2015 and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 12:32:31.544922; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV base in Antarctica, and Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden. Observations near Antarctic and Arctic circles.