2012A&A...543A.160T

Accurate fundamental parameters of stars are essential for the asteroseismic analysis of data from the NASA Kepler mission. We aim at determining accurate atmospheric parameters and the abundance pattern for a sample of 82 red giants that are targets for the Kepler mission. We have used high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra from three different spectrographs. We used the iterative spectral synthesis method VWA to derive the fundamental parameters from carefully selected high-quality iron lines. After determination of the fundamental parameters, abundances of 13 elements were measured using equivalent widths of the spectral lines. We identify discrepancies in logg and [Fe/H], compared to the parameters based on photometric indices in the Kepler Input Catalogue (larger than 2.0dex for logg and [Fe/H] for individual stars). The T_eff found from spectroscopy and photometry shows good agreement within the uncertainties. We find good agreement between the spectroscopic logg and the logg derived from asteroseismology. Also, we see indications of a potential metallicity effect on the stellar oscillations. We have determined the fundamental parameters and element abundances of 82 red giants. The large discrepancies between the spectroscopic logg and [Fe/H] and values in the Kepler Input Catalogue emphasize the need for further detailed spectroscopic follow-up of the Kepler targets in order to produce reliable results from the asteroseismic analysis.