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Rime ice
From SKYbrary Wiki
| Article Information | ||
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| Category: | Weather | 
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| Content source: | SKYbrary | 
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| Content control: | EUROCONTROL | 
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Description
Rime ice is the most common form of icing. Rime ice is formed when small supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a sub-zero surface. Because the droplets are small, they freeze almost instantly creating a mixture of tiny ice particles and trapped air. The ice deposit formed is rough and crystalline and you can’t see through it. Because of its crystalline structure, rime ice is brittle.
Rime ice forms on the leading edges and can affect aerodynamic characteristics of wings and engine intakes. Rime ice also significantly increases the weight of the aircraft.
Related Articles
For information on other types of icing, the hazards associated with icing, the types of cloud that may be associated with In-Flight Icing, and solutions, see the main articles on In Flight Icing and Cloud Types.