The Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) Sounding the Atmosphere at 80o North
M ATMOSPHERIC MEASUREMENTS in the High Arctic is challenging because of the remoteness of the area, the difficult transportation, the inconsistent communications, and the extreme environmental conditions. In 2003, after the Environment Canada (EC) Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Observatory (AStrO) closed, the Canadian Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Change (CANDAC) a group of university and government scientists, identified a High Arctic observatory as a high priority need to improve research measurements over the Canadian portion of the Arctic. Significant effort was given to selecting a site and acquiring the required funding to populate it. This activity gained fresh urgency with the planning of the International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007 08. A High Arctic observatory would directly respond to the IPY intention not only to make intensive measurements throughout the IPY time frame, but also to "leave a legacy of observing sites, facilities and systems to support ongoing polar research and monitoring" (ICSU, 2004:10) After some consideration of alternative sites, CANDAC decided to concentrate activities at Eureka (80 N, 86 W, see Fig. 1) The research site was designated the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) and CANDAC began to seek funding for equipment and operations. PEARL, which formally began operations in 2005, supports research in three broad areas: air quality, ozone, and climate change. Subsequent experience has amply demonstrated the appropriateness of the site, and several advantages that were not apparent at the time of site selection affirm Eureka as a uniquely suitable location for atmospheric (and now other) measurements in the Canadian sector of the High Arctic.