Sudden warmings in the stratopause region are a well known phenomenon in middle atmosphere dynamics. In this study, these stratopause warmings are analyzed using a ten year integration of the Berlin Climate Middle Atmosphere Model. The good spatial and temporal resolution of the model allows to investigate the main properties on a statistical basis. It turns out that strong stratopause warmings occur in almost each northern hemisphere winter. The associated temperature maximums and the descent of the stratopause agree very well with observed events. Two selected warmings are compared in terms of EP flux diagnostics and planetary wave amplitudes to study the links between stratopause events and (major) warmings in the lower/middle stratosphere. Only with supply of upward propagating wave energy from the troposphere and lowest stratosphere, stratopause warmings develop to lower stratospheric warmings. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union