Deciphering the Origin of Intracluster and Intercluster Inhomogeneities of the CNO Elements Within the Galactic Globular Cluster System

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The use of globular cluster stars to study early chemical enrichment in the galaxy is rendered uncertain by the existence of stars in the same cluster with different surface abundances of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and possibly other elements. To clarify the causes of this, a systematic survey of the chemical abundances of stars in different evolutionary states in various clusters will be made. This investigation is possible for the first time due to the capabilities of new instrumentation at Lick Observatory and the Keck Telescope in Hawaii.