What is the relationship between vertical velocities and icing?

What is the relationship between vertical velocities and icing?

• A. They have no relationship at all
• B. Higher vertical velocities lead to less icing
• C. Higher vertical velocities increase the amount of icing
• D. They are inversely related

Answer: (C)

Higher vertical velocities increase the amount of icing because they create more conducive conditions for supercooled liquid water to exist in clouds. When an aircraft flies through a cloud, the upward motion caused by higher vertical velocities can enhance the concentration of moisture in the atmosphere. This is particularly true in cumuliform clouds, where strong updrafts can lead to the presence of supercooled water droplets that pose a risk of icing. These supercooled water droplets can accumulate on the aircraft surfaces if the temperature conditions are right, making both the intensity of the updrafts and the moisture content of the cloud significant factors in icing potential. Therefore, as vertical velocities increase, so does the likelihood of encountering dangerous icing conditions due to the greater concentration of these droplets in the vicinity of the aircraft.

Higher vertical velocities increase the amount of icing because they create more conducive conditions for supercooled liquid water to exist in clouds. When an aircraft flies through a cloud, the upward motion caused by higher vertical velocities can enhance the concentration of moisture in the atmosphere. This is particularly true in cumuliform clouds, where strong updrafts can lead to the presence of supercooled water droplets that pose a risk of icing.

These supercooled water droplets can accumulate on the aircraft surfaces if the temperature conditions are right, making both the intensity of the updrafts and the moisture content of the cloud significant factors in icing potential. Therefore, as vertical velocities increase, so does the likelihood of encountering dangerous icing conditions due to the greater concentration of these droplets in the vicinity of the aircraft.