The metallicity distributions in high-latitudes with SDSS

Abstract

We present metallicities and their variations with different parameters for 36 high-latitude fields covering Galactic longitudes < I <= 360 degrees. The metallicities for relatively short vertical distances (z < 2.5 kpc) show systematic fluctuations with Galactic longitude, similar to those of the thick-disc scaleheight, which may be interpreted as indicating a common origin, viz., the flare effect : I the disc (Bilir et al., 2007, MNRAS). This suggestion is supported by the metallicity variations which we find as functions of radial stance. The metallicity variation at larger vertical distances (6.5 < z <= 9.5 kpc) is small but monotonic. Three different vertical metallicity graents could be detected: d[M vertical bar H]dz = - 0.22( +/- 0.03), d[M vertical bar H]vertical bar dz = -0.38( +/- 0.06), and d[M vertical bar H]dz = -0.08(+/- 0.07) dex kpc(-1) for the,tervals z < 3, 3 <=, z < 5, and 5 <=, z < 10 kpc, respectively. Since our data cover the whole Galactic longitude interval, the resulting metlicity gradients can be interpreted as properties of the larger-scale Galaxy. The first gradient confirms the dissipational formation of the sc at short z-distances. The steeper gradient corresponds to the transition region between different population components of the Galcy, and finally, the lowest value provides an adequate description of the inner-halo metallicity gradient. 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.