Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory

The Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory is a research facility in Canada's far north that operates across multiple locations. It consists of the Ridge Laboratory, Zero-Altitude Laboratory, and Surface Atmospheric Flux Extension Site, each designed to take different types of atmospheric measurements.

The facility started as a building run by the Meteorological Service of Canada in 1992 and later grew into a larger research operation. It received its current name, PEARL, in 2005 when CANDAC took over its management.

Scientists from multiple Canadian universities work together at this facility and contribute to international networks studying the atmosphere. The research here shapes how the Arctic is understood as a critical region for understanding global climate patterns.

Access to the facility is through charter flights from cities like Iqaluit, Resolute Bay, or Yellowknife, which makes getting there challenging. Visitors should prepare for extreme Arctic conditions and understand that entry is highly restricted.

The Ridge Laboratory sits at about 610 meters elevation, which allows scientists to check data from satellites passing directly overhead. This position makes it valuable for validating satellite observations over the Arctic region.