Which type of icing forms when droplets freeze rapidly and is opaque, disrupting airflow?

Which type of icing forms when droplets freeze rapidly and is opaque, disrupting airflow?

• A. Mixed ice
• B. Clear ice
• C. Glaze ice
• D. Rime ice

Answer: (D)

Rime ice forms when small supercooled droplets strike a surface and freeze almost instantly. The rapid freezing traps air in the ice, giving a white, opaque, rough coating. That rough, milky layer disrupts the smooth airflow over wings and other surfaces, increasing drag and reducing lift. This type of icing typically occurs in very cold conditions with small droplets, such as freezing fog or cold clouds. By contrast, clear ice comes from larger droplets that spread before freezing, producing a transparent, dense sheet; glaze ice is a glossy, transparent ice from freezing rain or drizzle; and mixed ice combines features of both.

Rime ice forms when small supercooled droplets strike a surface and freeze almost instantly. The rapid freezing traps air in the ice, giving a white, opaque, rough coating. That rough, milky layer disrupts the smooth airflow over wings and other surfaces, increasing drag and reducing lift. This type of icing typically occurs in very cold conditions with small droplets, such as freezing fog or cold clouds. By contrast, clear ice comes from larger droplets that spread before freezing, producing a transparent, dense sheet; glaze ice is a glossy, transparent ice from freezing rain or drizzle; and mixed ice combines features of both.