We model the stochastic attenuation by HI absorbers in the intergalactic medium (IGM), such as Lyα Forest clouds, and absorbers associated with galaxies, such as Lyman Limit systems (LLS) and Damped Lyman Alpha absorbers (DLAs), and compute an ensemble of 4 · 103 attenuated Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs) in the Johnson system for the spectrum of a galaxy with a constant star formation rate (CSFR). Using these, we asses the impact of the stochastic attenuation on the estimates of photometric redshifts for this type of galaxy by comparison with model SEDs that include only a mean attenuation.

We give references to some of our work on the properties and evolution of the neutral gas component of the Universe (see reference list). The bulk of the observed neutral gas has been detected by identifying intervening damped Lyα (DLA) quasar absorption-line systems with N(H) ≥2 × 1020 atoms cm−2. We also present some initial results from a program to identify DLA absorbers near redshift z = 0.5 using Hubble Space Telescope ACS prism spectra (see Figure 1).