What type of icing occurs when the droplets are small and the rate of catch is low?

Rime icing occurs when small water droplets come into contact with a surface and freeze almost instantaneously. This type of icing is characterized by a rapid accumulation of ice that creates a rough, white, and opaque appearance. The small size of the droplets plays a significant role, as they have a higher tendency to freeze immediately upon contact, resulting in a lower ice accumulation rate compared to larger droplets.

In conditions that lead to rime icing, the temperature and droplet size are critical. Smaller droplets can mean they have less kinetic energy, which contributes to their lower rate of catch. As a result, the ice forms in a more brittle and fragile state, making rime icing typically less hazardous than clear icing, which can be more serious due to its heavier and glossy characteristics that form from larger droplets. Understanding these characteristics helps pilots assess and manage the risks associated with icing during flight, particularly under instrument conditions where visual cues may be limited.