Abstract

Routine ruby lidar observations of the stratospheric aerosol have been obtained at Hampton, Virginia (37.1°N. 76.3°W) from 1974 to the present. This period includes a major volcanic increase in 1974 from Volcan de Fuego, a background period of minimal stratospheric aerosol concentrations in 1978-79, and a time of multiple volcanic eruptions during 1980-82. The data are presented in terms of lidar scattering ratio and corresponding temperature profiles, the time history of the peak backscatter mixing ratio, the height of the peak backscatter and temperature minimum, and the aerosol backscatter integrated through the stratosphere. The results are discussed in terms of the increases due to the volcanic eruptions, the decay times of the aerosol following these eruptions, and the possible observations of seasonal variations in the background level concentrations.