Using recent detailed ion chemistry models it is in principle possible to estimate the effect of precipitating high energy particles on the ion and neutral composition, if the spectrum of the precipitating particles is known. However, in practice the variations in concentrations of the constituents are not only determined by local processes, but to a large extent also governed by horizontal transport. Since imaging riometers can map both spatial and temporal variations of the ionization produced by precipitating particles, we would expect this data to be extremely useful as constraints in model studies of the effects of precipitation. An attempt is made to combine a detailed ion chemistry model, with coupled neutral chemistry, and data provided by imaging riometer, in order to study the spatial effects of local ionization enhancements.
To be presented in session: GA2.01