We have studied the response of the ionospheric F region to intense horizontal gradients in the convection electric field, using a kinetic theory of the ion gas. In the boundary regions where the electric field changes rapidly in space, we have found that the local ion velocity distribution can become markedly asymmetric in a direction that is perpendicular to that of the magnetic field. The degree of asymmetry depends on the local electric field and on the magnitude of the shears. There is also a marked contrast between situations for which the electric field increases in its own direction as opposed to when it decreases along that direction. An integral part of our kinetic solution is the presence of a time-dependent ion density, associated with a change in the net charge and therefore with the divergence of the electric field. This is a result of current continuity requirements for the problem at hand. A more unexpected result is that the mean ion drift differs markedly from the local value of the E¿B drift as well. This behavior could lead to strong Hall currents in the regions of convection shears and cause a Farley-Buneman type of instability at F region heights. Other findings include the fact that the ion temperature varies markedly from one situation to another and is strongly three-dimensionally anisotropic. Finally, strong ion heat flows can be induced in the E¿B direction even though the plasma is strongly magnetized. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994