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M.E. Putman (University of Michigan)
The installation of the Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (ALFA) has led to exciting possibilities in the future of the HI study of high-velocity clouds (HVCs) in the Galactic halo. While previous surveys were limited in resolution and sensitivity (in particular to the ultra-compact HVCs), ALFA surveys will have both and can answer several questions with regard to the role of HVCs in galaxy formation and evolution. How does our Galaxy obtain fresh star formation fuel? Is there a clear link between HVCs and Galactic emission and does the gas appear to be outflowing or inflowing? How many ultra-compact HVCs are there and do they represent the dark matter dominated "missing satellites"? Are these compact HVCs (and others) interacting with a halo medium and what are the properties of this medium? Recent Arecibo results will be discussed with regard to these questions and the prospects of GALFA highlighted.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.