Temperature dependences of stratospheric aerosol extinction at a tropical station

Characteristics of aerosol extinction in lower stratospheric altitudes over a tropical station are studied using the ruby lidar data at Trivandrum (8°55′N, 77°E) for the period 1986–1987. The integrated stratospheric aerosol extinction as well as the aerosol extinction at fixed altitudes in this region showed a significant negative correlation with tropopause temperature. This is attributed to tropospheric convective activity. Though the direct correlation between ambient temperature and aerosol extinction is insignificant at these altitudes, the partial correlation eliminating the influence of tropopause temperature becomes increasingly significant at altitudes far from the tropopause. This indicates the increasing influence of stratospheric microphysical processes at higher altitudes, that is, near the altitude of stratospheric aerosol peak.