AbstractThe existence, statistical significance, and possible causes of stratospheric temperature anomalies observed at the 100 mb level in the Australasian region in 1963 and 1966 are discussed with reference to the so‐called quasi‐biennial oscillation, volcanic dust, and the general circulation. This discussion is facilitated by the use of the observed correlation between stratospheric temperatures and the mean latitude of the surface high pressure belt, in order to increase the sensitivity of a statistical test for anomalous temperatu