Neng-Huei (George) Lin, Ph.D.

December 3, 2009


Dear Prof. Dokiya,

I would express my deepest appreciation for your participation and presentation in the Second International Symposium and Training Workshop on Atmospheric Observations and Advanced Measuring Techniques in Remote Areas, held in Taipei on 2-5 June, 2009. Your presentation about the history and recent development of Mt. Fuji station has impressed all participants. In the past few years, we have been extending bilateral collaborations on data exchange and field campaign between Mt. Fuji station and Mt. Lulin Atmospheric Background Station (LABS). The comparison of precipitation chemistry between both stations was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, an internationally renowned journal, in 2007. Besides, we sent two technicians with mercury samplers to Mt. Fuji station for summer campaign of 2008. The results are being analyzed and written for publication.

Aforementioned achievements are partly based on the previous successful operation of Mt. Fuji station. Your station represents an eminent location for studying background atmospheric chemistry in northeastern Asia, and has provided invaluable data to the world science community. In particular, the long-term data from Mt. Fuji would be the treasure for investigating the regional climate and environmental changes. However, I have heard from your presentation the difficulties in the operation of Mt. Fuji station and the discontinuous support from Japan government. I am so surprised that Japan government would abandon this internationally renowned and widely recognized station. In the future, there would appear a blank in the world map for global change studies. Instead, I see an opportunity for Mt. Lulin to replace Mt. Fuji to be the only high-elevation mountain station in western Pacific Rim region. Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration and National Science Council will continuously support the research and operation of the LABS.

No matter how the Mt. Fuji station will be, we would like to bring Japan government the attention that in the past years, Fuji station has been an excellent example for Japan to demonstrate its obligation and contribution to the world, and this legacy should not be ignored. Please forward our regards to those relevant ministries of Japan government that Mt. Fuji should continue its operation. Instead, we highly welcome Japanese scientists to move their instruments to Mt. Lulin for continuing the role of watching the Atmosphere!

Please let me know if you need more help from our side. We would like to do our best to assist Mt. Fuji station’s operation.

Best regards,


Neng-Huei (George) Lin
Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
President, Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research



at the Entrance of the trail to LABS