BARREL 4C: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra with 10 ms Resolution from Balloon Campaigns

30 channels of ultra-fast time resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra collected at 10-millisecond intervals by the BARREL balloon mission. The data, provided by NASA, were gathered during multiple campaigns from Antarctica (2013-2014) and Sweden (2015-2016) to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts. Over 50 stratospheric balloon flights contributed measurements from altitudes around 30 km, coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Studying relativistic electron precipitation events based on 10-millisecond X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on multi-balloon array data.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ Van Allen Probes data based on coordinated campaign timing.
• Analyzing ultra-fast temporal variations in Bremsstrahlung spectra based on 30-channel energy bin data.

Strengths

• Ultra-fast 10-millisecond time resolution for capturing rapid physical events.
• Data from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns (2013-2016) provides temporal breadth.
• Coordinated measurements with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments like EISCAT radar.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data below 25 km altitude are not removed, requiring users to check altitude in separate EPHM files.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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 11:48:59.064238; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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