BARREL 4A: Fast Time Resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns

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 losses from Earth's Radiation Belts.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations of electron precipitation based on 50 ms fast time resolution X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing spatial scales of relativistic electron 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 concurrent DC magnetometer measurements mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms fast time resolution across six spectral channels.
• Data collected from over 50 balloon launches across four campaigns spanning 2013 to 2016.
• Mission designed to augment comprehensive in-situ measurements from the Van Allen Probes.

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 balloon launch sites in Antarctica and Sweden.

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 03:33:27.908817; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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