Observed Brα η Car CLV and two CMFGEN Brα models with mass-loss rates of (green) 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ yr⁻¹ and (blue) 4.0 × 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ yr⁻¹ (all CLVs arecomputed for a radial velocity = − 8 km s⁻¹ and spatial resolution of 6 mas). Red CLV: Observed CLV. Green CLV: Mass-loss rate = 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ yr⁻¹; effective temperature T_{eff(τ= 2∕3)} = 11 000 K; velocity V_{τ= 2∕3} = 326 km s⁻¹. Blue CLV: Mass-loss rate = 4.0 × 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ yr⁻¹, effective temperature T_{eff(τ= 2∕3)} = 12 000 K; velocity V_{τ= 2∕3} = 314 km s⁻¹. The following parameters are identical in both models: luminosity = 5.0 × 10⁶ L_⊙, radius R_core = 120 R_⊙, terminal velocity V_inf = 400 km s⁻¹. Orange CLV: CMFGEN model discussed in Sect. 5 (mass-loss rate Ṁ = 8.0 × 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ yr⁻¹). All models have a radius R_core = 120 R_⊙ and a volume filling factor of 0.1.