Total ozone and ozonesonde data obtained at the Japanese Antarctic Station, Syowa, are analyzed together with radiosonde data in the lower stratosphere at the same station. Very high correlation coefficients between monthly mean values of ozone and stratospheric temperature suggest a clear relation between stratospheric circulation and ozone amount. The rapid decrease of the Antarctic ozone in recent years might be caused by the extraordinary change in the circulation, because there is also a rapid decrease of the temperature in the lower stratosphere above the Syowa station in spring months of recent years. This conclusion is endorsed by analysis of ozonesonde observations in 1982. The year‐to‐year change of both total ozone and stratospheric temperature suggests the influence of changes in solar activ