Long-term stratospheric temperature fluctuations and solar activity

Abstract

Stratospheric temperatures near 30 km were found to have been approximately in-phase with the solar cycle during the 22-year period 1957–1978. Maxima and minima in summertime 10–30 mb layer mean temperatures occurred within 2 years from corresponding solar activity maxima and minima, the relationship being confined to latitudes greater than 30°N. In the stratosphere above about 30 km a possible solar trace can be identified only over moderate and low latitudes the amplitude of which increases with height. The observed stratospheric temperature variations during the solar activity cycle are possibly within model calculations of UV and solar particle enhancements at solar maximum.