BARREL 3E: Fast X-ray Spectra from Radiation Belt Balloon Campaigns

Six channels of fast time resolution (50 ms) Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected by NaI scintillators on stratospheric balloons. The BARREL mission launched over 50 balloons from Antarctic and Arctic sites between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Data was collected by NASA's BARREL mission to augment the Van Allen Probes.

Use Cases

• Analyze electron precipitation events based on fast time resolution (50 ms) X-ray spectra
• Characterize spatial scales of precipitation based on multi-balloon constellation data
• Correlate precipitation with magnetic field variations based on concurrent DC magnetometer measurements
• Study radiation belt electron losses based on balloon measurements coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission

Strengths

• Provides six distinct spectral channels (FSPC1a, FSPC1b, FSPC1c, FSPC2, FSPC3, FSPC4) covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV
• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016)
• First balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation coordinated with comprehensive in-situ plasma wave and particle data

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 stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:34:16.252603; freshness should be verified

Geography

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