We use Keck HIRES spectra of three intermediate redshift QSOs to study the physical state and kinematics of the individual components of CIV selected heavy element absorption systems .
Fewer than 8 % of all CIV lines with column densities greater than 10 ^ { 12.5 } cm ^ { -2 } have Doppler parameters b < 6 kms ^ { -1 } .
A formal decomposition into thermal and non-thermal motion using the simultaneous presence of SiIV gives a mean thermal Doppler parameter b _ { therm } ( CIV ) =7.2 kms ^ { -1 } , corresponding to a temperature of 3.8 \times 10 ^ { 4 } K although temperatures possibly in excess of 3 \times 10 ^ { 5 } K occur occasionally .
We also find tentative evidence for a mild increase of temperature with HI column density .
Non-thermal motions within components are typically small ( < 10 kms ^ { -1 } ) for most systems , indicative of a quiescent environment .
The two-point correlation function ( TPCF ) of CIV systems on scales up to 500 kms ^ { -1 } suggests that there is more than one source of velocity dispersion .
The shape of the TPCF can be understood if the CIV systems are caused by ensembles of objects with the kinematics of dwarf galaxies on a small scale , while following the Hubble flow on a larger scale .
Individual high redshift CIV components may be the building blocks of future normal galaxies in a hierarchical structure formation scenario .