Reduced high-resolution HI and CO data cubes

By correlating HI and far-infrared (FIR) dust continuum emission from the Planck satellite, the distribution of molecular hydrogen (H_2_) is estimated. We conduct a detailed comparison of the HI, FIR, and CO data and study variations of the XCO conversion factor. The atomic IVC does not disclose detectable CO emission.

The atomic small-scale structure, as revealed by the high-resolution HI data, shows low peak HI column densities and low HI fluxes as compared to the molecular IVC. The molecular IVC exhibits a rich molecular structure and most of the CO emission is observed at the eastern edge of the cloud. There is observational evidence that the molecular IVC is in a transient and, thus, non- equilibrium phase.

The average XCO factor is close to the canonical value of the Milky Way disk. We propose that the two IVCs represent different states in a gradual transition from atomic to molecular clouds. The molecular IVC appears to be more condensed allowing the formation of H_2_ and CO in shielded regions all over the cloud.

Ram pressure may accumulate gas and thus facilitate the formation of H_2_. We show evidence that the atomic IVC will evolve also into a molecular IVC in a few Myr.