A proposed large reduction in the solar oxygen abundance—motivated by spectral synthesis of weak forbidden O I absorptions using 3D convection models—has provoked consternation in the helioseismology community:the spectacular agreement between measured interior sound speed profiles and predictions based on the historical co completely unravels at the new lower value. In an effort to validate low-0, two generic tests of the 3D models are outlined.A snapshot from the CO5BOLD class of convection simulations is shown to meet some of the requirements, but fail others. Implications for the solar carbon monoxide (CO) spectrum—alternative O tracer—are discussed.
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