A comparison between the HALOE HF column above 20 km and the ATMOS 1985 measurements is used to estimate the annual rate of increase of stratospheric HF. Exponential rates of 4.9-6.6% yr-1 and linear growth rates of 6-8.6% yr-1 in 1985 and 4.3-5.5% yr-1 in 1992-1993 are found. This species behaves like a conserved tracer and its distribution shows an area of enhanced mixing ratios correlated with the polar vortex that has a clear latitude boundary. -from Authors