2001ApJ...553..274Z

We present large-area, fully sampled maps of the Carina molecular cloud complex in the CO (J=4⟶3) and neutral carbon [C I] ³P₁⟶³P₀ transitions. These data were obtained using the 1.7 m Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO). The maps cover an area of approximately 3 deg² with a uniform 1' spatial sampling. Analysis of these data, in conjunction with CO (J=1⟶0) data from the Columbia CO survey and the IRAS HIRES continuum maps for the same region, suggests that the spiral density wave shock associated with the Carina spiral arm may be playing an important role in the formation and dissociation of the cloud complex, as well as in maintaining the internal energy balance of the clouds in this region. Massive stars form at the densest regions of the molecular cloud complex. The winds and outflows associated with these stars have a disrupting effect on the complex and inject mechanical energy into the parent clouds, while the UV radiation from the young stars also heats the parent clouds. The present set of data suggests, however, that massive stars alone may not account for the energetics of the clouds in the Carina region. The details of the data and the correlation among the various data sets hint at the possible role that the spiral density wave shock plays in feeding interstellar turbulence and heating molecular clouds.