Stratospheric Temperature Changes and the Associated Changes in Pressure Distribution

It has been 6 years since the last pronounced case of an “explosive” stratospheric warming was observed over Berlin. This stratospheric warming began over southeastern Europe on 20 January 1958, a few days after a considerable increase in the drag of the satellite Sputnik β1, 1957 (II). The warming of the 25-mb surface reached its greatest intensity over the North Sea on 25 January, and the highest temperature was measured over Iceland on 30 January 1958. The warming continued to spread upstream in a westerly and northwesterly direction, crossed northern North America and finally dissolved over the northern Pacific. During the same period a second warming moved from the Alëutian Islands across Siberia to northern Europe and Greenland. The associated high-level pressure rise, were followed by surface highs a few days later. About half a year later, a few days after the very strong solar flare of 7 July 1958 and simultaneously with a remarkable increase on the drag of Sputnik III, a first summerly stratospheric heating of a few degrees Centigrade was observed over Europe. Within 13 days this warming moved around the whole northern hemisphere in a regular way, downstream, accompanied by a distinct wind shift in the stratosphere. Finally, a 13-day period in mesospheric pressure and winds could be found over Berlin, Germany, during summer of 1959.