Long-Term Variation of Stratospheric Aerosols Observed With Lidar from 1982 to 2014 Over Tsukuba, Japan

The vertical distribution of stratospheric aerosols has been measured with lidars at the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) over Tsukuba since 1982. After two major volcanic eruptions (Mt. El Chichón in 1982 and Mt. Pinatubo in 1991), stratospheric aerosol loading increased about 50–100 times compared with the background level which was observed for 1997-2000. From 2000 to 2012, a slight increase (5.3% year–1) was observed by some volcanic eruptions. This long-term lidar data have been used for assessing of impact of the stratospheric aerosols on climate and the ozone layer.