Requirements for observations from chemodynamical models

Chemodynamical models view the evolution of galaxies in the context of an ISM that is influenced both by the stars that it has made and the effects of the gravitational potential of the host system. While these models include complicated interactions within galaxies, they also exhibit general features, such as regulated star formation rates, mixing between various gas phases in the interstellar medium, and the transport of metals over large distances. These predictions are the basis for initial observational tests of the models, where good qualitative agreement is found, and offer a foundation for future quantitative comparisons with chemodynamical models. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.