Precipitation effects on atmospheric electron densities

Abstract

In this thesis the effects of precipitated electrons on electron densities in the upper atmosphere are investigated. A method for solving the continuity equation has been developed , and this has been used to calculate electron density profiles under various conditions: daytime equilibrium conditions, with and without additional ionization by precipitated electrons; and nighttime conditions, with and without precinitation . This preliminary study seems to show that certain effects may be attributable to precipitation, and that these effects may be significant at night.