Multi-wavelength SAGE II and HALOE extinction data are used to study cirrus and tropospheric aerosol in the upper troposphere. Tropospheric aerosol extinction increased in the upper troposphere following the Pinatubo eruption, while tropical subvisual cirrus extinction decreased. This decrease is not likley due to tropopause temperature preturbations, so other physical reasons (e.g. microphysics) are needed to explain the observations.