Advantages and Disadvantages of a Curve of Growth Analysis

(1)  The results are relatively insensitive to the assumed model of line formation.  Even relative abundances
      derived using the highly unrealistic Schuster-Schwarzchild model are not too bad.

(2)  A readily obtainable datum, the equivalent width, is used.

(3)  Equivalent widths can be obtained with relatively little error (except for late spectral types).

(4)  A large amount of data, i.e., equivalent widths, can be handled simultaneously.

(5)  Equivalent widths, unlike observed line profiles, are unaffected by instrumental degradation of spectral
      resolution.

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(-1) As a statistical procedure, it largely ignores any information in individual equivalent widths.

(-2) Information in the line profiles is lost.

(-3) Equivalent widths are difficult to obtain in late stars where the continuum is not accurately determinable
      and where blended features are common.