BARREL 4G Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra from Stratospheric Balloons

Six channels of fast time resolution, 50 ms, Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator. The BARREL Mission was a multiple-balloon investigation designed to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts, collecting data from over 50 stratospheric balloon launches across campaigns in Antarctica and Sweden from 2013 to 2016. Observations were made near latitudes close to either the antarctic and arctic circles at stratospheric altitudes at about 30 km.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal variations of electron precipitation based on the 50 ms fast time resolution data
• Study spatial scales of relativistic electron precipitation based on the multi-balloon array observations
• Correlate X-ray spectra with magnetic field variations based on the concurrent DC magnetometer measurements
• Model bremsstrahlung X-ray production based on the six-channel energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms fast time resolution across six spectral channels
• Data collected from over 50 stratospheric balloon launches across four campaigns
• Observations 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

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 03:32:18.955842; freshness should be verified

Geography

Launches from Halley Bay, Antarctica; SANAE IV base, Antarctica; and Esrange Space Center, Kiruna, Sweden