The Effect of Star Formation on Molecular Clouds in Dwarf Irregular Galaxies: IC 10 and NGC 6822

We have observed the 12CO J = 2-1 and J = 3-2 lines at a few locations in the dwarf irregular galaxies IC 10 and NGC 6822 using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. In addition, we have observed the 13CO J = 2-1 line for IC 10 and the first detection of the 13CO J = 3-2 transition in a Local Group galaxy. The CO line ratios in IC 10 are uniform and are consistent with the average line ratios observed in M33 at the 1 σ level. These low-metallicity …