The circulation of the stratosphere

Fifty years ago, little was known about the stratospheric circulation. As soon as an observationally based picture emerged, it became apparent that wave transport processes are fundamental to explaining its dynamical and thermal structure. Thus, the stratosphere became a laboratory for studying these processes, and this in turn motivated advances in wave, mean-flow interaction theory which have since found application in other contexts. Throughout most of this period, stratospheric meteorology has developed hand in hand with stratospheric chemistry, partly because of the availability of global observations of trace gases, and partly because of the need to understand the role of transport in ozone chemistry. I will attempt to review the evolution of stratospheric meteorology, and to assess what remains to be understood.