Interstellar Abundances in the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract

We summarize recent studies of the predominantly neutral gas in the Magellanic Clouds (MC), based on combinations of high-resolution optical spectra and UV spectra obtained with IUE, HST, and FUSE. Similarities in relative gas-phase abundances for Galactic and MC sightlines with relatively low N(H) had suggested that the depletion patterns might be similar in the three galaxies -- at least where the depletions are relatively mild. New STIS spectra of one higher N(H) SMC sightline, however, have revealed significant differences, relative to the Galactic patterns, for SMC clouds characterized by more severe depletions.