BARREL 4C: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Balloon Campaigns, 32 s Resolution

Antarctic and Arctic stratospheric balloon campaigns collected over 50 flights between 2013 and 2016. The dataset contains 256-channel, 32-second resolution bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra from 0 MeV to 10 MeV, combined into a single variable, to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. It was produced by NASA as part of the BARREL mission to augment the Van Allen Probes.

Use Cases

• Modeling relativistic electron precipitation events based on bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal variations in radiation belt losses based on multi-balloon array data.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ satellite data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on the balloon constellation observations.

Strengths

• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon flights across four campaigns.
• Spectra cover a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV across 256 channels.
• Campaigns were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground/space instruments.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data format includes BIN files, which may require specialized tools for access.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers carried on small stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 11:50:35.429123; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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