Variability and trends in stratospheric temperature and water vapor

Long-term variability and trends in global stratospheric temperature are described, based on radiosonde observations since the 1960s and satellite measurements since 979. New radiosonde-based data sets are available that include adjustments for nstrumental inhomogeneities, and these data show good agreement with satellite easurements in the lower stratosphere. The stratosphere exhibits well-known ransient warming linked to large volcanic eruptions, plus long-term cooling with magnitudes ∼-0.5 K/decade in the lower stratosphere to ∼-1.2 K/decade in the pper stratosphere. Observations of stratospheric water vapor are also analyzed, ased on satellite measurements for 1993-2010. Observed interannual variability is ominated by the quasi-biennial oscillation, plus a step-like drop after 2001. For the bserved satellite record, variability in stratospheric water vapor is closely tied to emperature anomalies near the equatorial cold point tropopause.