The effects of dust on the spectral energy distribution of star-forming galaxies

I review the effects of dust, both in absorption and in emission, on the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of local star-forming galaxies. The energy balance between the stellar light absorbed by dust at UV-optical-near-IR wavelengths and the energy re-emitted by dust in the far-infrared (FIR) shows that the amount of dust extinction affecting the galaxy can be predicted with simple prescriptions applied to the UV-optical data. The implications of these results for high redshift galaxies are discussed. Arguments can be given to support the view that local starbursts are representative of high-redshift (z > 2), UV-detected, star-forming galaxies. If this is the case, the high redshift FIR emission will be generally undetected in sub-mm surveys, unless: (1) the bolometric luminosity of the high-z galaxies is comparable to or larger than that of local ultra-luminous FIR galaxies; and (2) their FIR SED contains a cool dust component. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.