Multispectral lidar data measured at Sodankyl¿ (67¿N, 26¿E), have been used to characterize stratospheric aerosols. Using depolarization measurements, particles have been classified into PSC and volcanic aerosols. While Pinatubo aerosol could be observed inside the polar vortex from the beginning of the campaign, only few PSC events have been observed. For Pinatubo aerosol lognormal size distribution parameters have been retrieved, indicating particle distributions with 0.1 &mgr;m to 0.3 &mgr;m median-radius between 17 and 22 km and up to 0.7 &mgr;m below. Height resolved size distribution parameters and aerosol surface areas are given. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994