Metallicity distributions in and around galaxies

Abstract

Metals are found in all baryonic phases and environments, and our knowledge of their distribution `in and around galaxies' has significantly improved over the past few years. Theoretical work has shown that the fraction of metals in different baryonic components can vary significantly when different feedback schemes are adopted. Therefore, studies of element abundances provide important information about all gas-dynamical processes which determine the cosmic evolution of baryons. I give here a brief review of recent observational progress, describe the implications of recent theoretical studies, and discuss briefly future prospects.

Invited Review given at the Southern Cross Astrophysics Conference on "Galaxy Metabolism" held in Sydney, 22-26 June 2009. Accepted by the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia (PASA)