BARREL 3E Rate Counter: Electron Precipitation Diagnostics, 4 s Data

Over 50 stratospheric balloons were launched across four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, collecting diagnostic rate counter data. The BARREL mission, a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, measured electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts using X-ray spectrometers and magnetometers. Data consists of 4-second accumulations of counts from NaI scintillator rate counters, with campaigns conducted in Antarctica and Sweden.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 4-second count accumulations.
• Characterizing spatial scales of relativistic electron precipitation based on balloon array measurements.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from satellite missions.
• Studying ULF-timescale magnetic field variations based on DC magnetometer data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Data spans four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year coverage.
• Over 50 balloon payloads were launched, offering a substantial observational array.
• Campaigns were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space instruments, enabling correlative studies.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Rate count data are diagnostic fields with uncalibrated energy ranges and may wrap near or above 16384 counts/s.
• 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.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:33:58.618047; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Launch sites in Antarctica (Halley Bay, SANAE IV) and Sweden (Esrange Space Center, Kiruna).