Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
The preliminary results of the analysis of more than 1000 spectra of cataclysmic variables in the archive of the International Ultraviolet Explorer were presented at the meeting. To characterize the slope of the spectra I use F = log(f1460Å/f2880Å). For most spectra F lies between 0.2 and 0.7. No correlation of F with orbital period, inclination, system type or (for dwarf novae) length of the interoutburst interval are found, apart from somewhat lower values of F for DQ Her type systems. Out of 16 dwarf novae for which spectra both at outburst maximum and minimum are available 11 show no large difference in F between maximum and minimum, and in 5 F declines with the flux level. Out of 6 dwarf novae 5 show very red spectra during the rise to maximum, and 1 shows slopes during rise similar to those during decline.
In the ultraviolet resonance lines, due to a wind from the disc, no correlation is found between inclination and terminal velocity.