Interannual temperature changes in the Antarctic lower stratosphere‐A relation to the ozone hole

Interannual changes in the daily zonal mean temperature in the Antarctic lower stratosphere are analyzed for the past seven years from 1980 to 1986 by using NMC data. It is found that the Antarctic polar region tends to cool not only in spring but also in all seasons, remarkably in winter and spring. Further analysis concerning the meridional gradient of the zonal mean temperature showed that the period per year of the winter pattern (temperature decrease toward the south pole) becomes longer as the ozone hole becomes deeper. From this evidence, the interrelation between the temperature decline and the ozone depletion is discussed.