BARREL 4F XSPC: 30-Channel Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra, 0.05 s Resolution

The BARREL mission collected data from balloon campaigns in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 from Antarctica and Sweden. It provides 30-channel bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra with 50-millisecond time resolution, measured by balloon-borne spectrometers at stratospheric altitudes. The data were produced by NASA to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts.

Use Cases

• Analyzing relativistic electron precipitation events based on 30-channel X-ray spectra.
• Studying spatial and temporal variations in radiation belt losses based on balloon array measurements.
• Correlating precipitation events with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on multi-balloon observations.

Strengths

• Provides 30 energy channels of X-ray spectral data.
• Offers high temporal resolution with 50-millisecond (0.05 s) data points.
• Data collection spans four campaigns from 2013 to 2016 across two hemispheres.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Measurement altitude is not filtered in this product and must be checked in separate EPHM files.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 11:33:33.819483; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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