Evidence for Extinction and Accretion Variability in T Tauri South

We present angularly resolved spectra of T Tau North and South in the 3 μm water-ice feature and K band. Most of the water-ice absorption lies along the line of sight toward T Tau South, confirming that it is viewed through stronger extinction. A decrease in ice-band absorption toward T Tau S between 1998 December and 2000 January, significant at the 2 σ level, was associated with an increase in its near-IR flux. Brγ emission is detected in T Tau North and South and H2 (2.12 μm) emission toward only T Tau South, consistent with previous studies of infrared companions to T Tauri stars. Our results suggest that the near-IR variability of T Tau S is probably caused by both variations in accretion rate and variable extinction along the line of sight.