BARREL 3G: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 0.05 s 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 BARREL Mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, launching over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron precipitation from Earth's Radiation Belts. Data was collected to augment the Van Allen Probes mission and characterize the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 50 ms resolution X-ray spectra.
• Studying 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.
• Modeling bremsstrahlung X-ray production from precipitating electrons colliding with atmospheric neutrals.

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms time resolution across six spectral channels (FSPC1a, FSPC1b, FSPC1c, FSPC2, FSPC3, FSPC4).
• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016), offering spatial and temporal coverage.
• Designed for coordinated analysis 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.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to collection from specific Antarctic and Arctic circle stations.

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 12:04:08.489992; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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