Ground based millimeter-wave measurements of Arctic stratospheric ozone in the winter 1996/97 are presented. The measurements have been performed at one of the primary Arctic stations of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC) in Ny-¿lesund, Spitsbergen (78.9 ¿N, 11.9 ¿E). Over the period 11 February to 26 April the measurements show an ozone mixing ratio decrease of 1.3 ppm in the lower stratosphere. Correspondingly, stratospheric ozone column densities decreased by more than 50 DU. Taking into account the transport of ozone due to diabatic decent, we estimated chemical ozone loss rates of 22 ppb/day in February decreasing to 15 ppb/day in late April 1997. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union