Antarctic Stratospheric Aerosols—Size and Number Concentration Measured by Balloon

Abstract

Balloon measurements on stratospheric aerosol made at Syowa Station, Antarctica in 1983 and 1985 suggested a volcanic effect of the El Chichón eruption of 1982 on the Antarctic stratosphere in 1983. The measurements in October 1983 and 1985 showed that the “year to year” cooling of the spring stratosphere also influenced the stratospheric aerosol content. Size distributions measured in the early winter of 1983 and 1985 indicated that fine particle formation was one possible process forming the winter enhancement of stratospheric aerosols (Polar Stratospheric Clouds, PSCs), in addition to the growth of preexisting particles.