0 Assigned ID: 1051 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Sat Mar 07 00:50:28 GMT 2020) ----- Nearly all observations of distant galaxies must account for the effects of dust, yet we do not fully understand what drives variations in dust attenuation. Dust attenuation is commonly measured by observing its effect on emission lines (e.g., Balmer decrement) or by observing overall stellar attenuation. Both locally and at high-redshift, studies find that the difference between these two measurements varies among galaxies. The varying differential attenuation is often explained by hot and cold dust components and complex dust-to-star geometry, but it is still subject to debate. Furthermore the dust attenuation curve is found to vary among different galaxies. The origin of this variation is also unclear and might be related to the variations found for the differential reddening. Recently, Battisti et al. (2017) explored a new avenue and found a strong correlation between the differential reddening and axis ratio (i.e., viewing angle) in low-redshift galaxies. We propose to use a similar approach and investigate variations in attenuation properties for distant galaxies using a unique combination of HST archival and other datasets. Through a novel clustering analysis technique, we will stack galaxies to create deep spectral energy distributions with high spectral sampling. Together with MOSDEF spectra for 1100 galaxies, we will measure attenuation curves and Balmer decrements and relate them with viewing angles from deep HST imaging. We will also explore the relations between dust and galaxy properties, including specific SFR and metallicity. Consequently, this work will address pressing questions about the distribution and effects of dust in distant galaxies. Lorenz has experience analyzing spectra of large galaxy datasets of similar size to this one, including measurements of SFR, Balmer decrement, and axis ratio. Lorenz also has a background in mathematics that will inform the clustering technique. Kriek has extensive experience with optical/NIR imaging and spectroscopy and developed many data reduction packages and public software to fit the spectral energy distributions of galaxies with stellar population synthesis models (FAST). She is a co-PI of the MOSDEF survey, and developed a new method for creating composite SEDs. She is also an expert on deriving dust properties from photometric and spectroscopic datasets. Shapley also has extensive experience with optical/NIR imaging and spectroscopy, is a co-PI of the MOSDEF survey, and an expert on deriving physical properties (in particular metallicities) of galaxies from spectroscopic and photometric observations. Galaxies Stellar Populations and the Interstellar Medium 0 Regular false false false false false SUPPORTED