Lidar measurements of stratospheric aerosols were made at several Arctic and mid‐latitude stations as part of the European Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Experiment (EASOE) in 1991/92. Volcanic aerosols were observed throughout the winter at all stations. High latitude stations observed an aerosol‐free stratosphere during most of the winter at altitudes above 450 K potential temperature (above 16 km). An even latitudinal distribution of volcanic aerosols was observed below this level. This is interpreted as indicative of latitudinal transport into the polar region throughout the winter. Copyright 1994 by the American Geophysical Union.