ON THE MODIFICATION OF LIGHT-ION CONCENTRATION PROFILES ABOVE SEISMICALLY ACTIVE REGIONS - A QUALITATIVE CONSIDERATION

A simplified model of diffusive equilibrium is used to reveal the para meters of the light ion distribution in the topside ionosphere which a re most sensitive to any kind of perturbations. The role of particle d rift, caused by a localized, quasi static electric field, modifying th e concentration profiles is investigated. Other factors affecting the ion distribution in the upper ionosphere are also mentioned. The relat ion of the results to the problem of earthquake predictions is discuss ed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.