Operations and maintenance support for the CEN Network of Northern Field Stations

北极圈中心(CEN)由8个野外观测站组成，是一个独特的国家设施，沿着加拿大北极东部3300公里的坡度延伸，从魁北克北部的詹姆斯湾地区一直延伸到加拿大北部的努纳武特。CEN网络的一个关键子组成部分是SILA网络，该网络由110个自动气候和环境监测系统组成，这些系统主要集中在外地站附近。这些空间站为加拿大和国际科学家的高纬度研究提供关键的通道和必要的后勤支持。在过去的50年里，该网络一直由CEN建立和管理，并一直得到拉瓦尔大学的大力支持。我们的设施在2008-2011年间进行了翻新和升级(投资1100万美元)。这些电台被来自学术界、北方组织和政府机构的广泛用户大量使用(近年来为4245个研究人员日)。CEN网络是国家和国际网络的成员，如CNNRO(加拿大北方研究操作员网络)、SAON(北极持续观测网络)和InterAct(北极陆地研究和监测国际网络)。几个主要的研究项目，包括卓越中心网络ArcticNet，NSERC项目北极开发和适应转型中的永冻土(Adapt)，加拿大-法国北极研究计划Takuvik和OHMI-Nunavik，以及不久由Apogee/CFREF计划资助的Sentinel North，都依赖于我们的设施，以及NSERC资助的许多研究人员的探索研究计划。CEN在北极研究中处于领先地位，在支持加拿大最具创新性的北方科学方面有着悠久的历史，这体现在出版物(自2012年以来，我们的研究人员发表了1100篇参考出版物)、高素质人员培训、获奖和研究拨款成功。自2010年以来，CEN成员指导了436名研究生和30名博士后研究员，其中很大一部分人(72%)在CEN外地站工作或使用SIRA网络的数据。我们的电台还为本科生和研究生举办几个暑期学校，我们积极参与因纽特人和原住民社区的外联和知识转让，特别是通过我们在WhapmagooStui-Kuujjuarapik的新社区科学中心。这里要求的NSERC支持将为北方研究、培训和知识转让这一主要资源的继续运作提供必要的核心资金。无法使用这些设施对加拿大北部的研究人员来说将是灾难性的，并将严重损害加拿大在环极世界的地位，因为它将终止我们与InterAct等国际合作伙伴的承诺。

The Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) Network of 8 field stations is a unique national facility that extends along a 3300-km gradient throughout the eastern Canadian Arctic, from the James Bay region in northern Québec to the northern limit of Canada in Nunavut. A key sub-component of the CEN Network is the SILA network of 110 automated climate and environmental monitoring systems that are largely clustered near the field stations. The stations provide critical access and essential logistical support for high latitude research by scientists throughout Canada and internationally. The network has been built up and managed by the CEN for the past 50 years and has always received considerable support from Université Laval. Our facilities were renovated and upgraded in 2008-2011 ($11M in investment). The stations are heavily used (4245 researcher-days per year in recent years) by a broad spectrum of users from academia, northern organisations, and government agencies. The CEN network is a member of national and international networks such as the CNNRO (Canadian Network of Northern Research Operators), SAON (Sustaining Arctic Observing Network), and INTERACT (International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic). Several major research programs including the Network of Centers of Excellence ArcticNet, the NSERC project Arctic Development and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition (ADAPT), the Canada-France Arctic research programs Takuvik and OHMI-Nunavik, and soon Sentinel North funded by the Apogee/CFREF program, rely on our facility, as well as the NSERC-funded Discovery research programs of many researchers. The CEN plays a leading role in Arctic research and has a long history of supporting the best innovative northern science in Canada as evidenced by publications (>1100 refereed publications since 2012 by our researchers), training of highly qualified personnel, prizes awarded, and research grant success. Since 2010, CEN members have supervised 436 graduate students and 30 postdoctoral fellows and a high proportion (72%) of them worked at the CEN field stations or used data from the SILA network. Our stations also host several summer schools for undergraduate and graduate students and we are actively involved in outreach and knowledge transfer with Inuit and First Nations communities, especially through our new Community Science Centre in Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik. The NSERC support requested here will provide essential core funding for the continued operation of this major resource for northern research, training and knowledge transfer. Loss of access to the facilities would be catastrophic for Canadian northern researchers and would deeply harm Canada’s standing in the circumpolar world by putting an end to our commitments with international partners such as INTERACT.