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J.M. Jackson, T.M. Bania, M. Kolpak, R. Simon, D.P. Clemens (Boston University), M.H. Heyer (FCRAO, U. Mass.)
We compare 13CO 1-0 data from the BU-FCRAO Galactic Ring Survey to H I 21 cm data from the BU-Arecibo H I Galactic Plane Survey. We often find a remarkable correlation in both position and velocity between 13CO emission and H I absorption. Because H I emission is ubiquitous throughout the Galaxy, with sufficient angular resolution, the cold H I can be used to determine whether the molecular cloud lies at the near or far kinematic distance. Clouds at the near distance will show H I self-absorption, whereas clouds at the far distance will show H I in emission. This technique has the potential to resolve the kinematic distance ambiguity by cleanly separating near clouds from far clouds.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: jackson@slime.bu.edu