Abstract - Three year observations of vertical ozone distributions (1985 - 1987) are analyzed, which have been gained by means of electrochemical ozone sondes (OSE-3) at GEORG FORSTER station (71°S; 12°E). This material and additional data of other stations are used to discuss the primary chemical origin of the spring time ozone depletion in connection with dynamically conditioned variations of ozone distribution in the southern polar stratosphere. A mean pattern featured by three typical time periods of the ozone depletion using the height-time variations of pronounced maxima of the vertical ozone distribution is drawn to localize the chemical active regionDuring spring in 1987 the ozone variations are discussed in more detail to separate different dynamical impacts like an irregular outflow of ozone into the troposphere and the control of vertical ozone distribution by dynamics of the southern polar stratospheric vortex itself. The special dynamical preconditions rendered it possible to use the height variations of stratospheric ozone as an indicator for the verticl diabatic circulation inside the polar stratospheric vortex.