Which of the following describes rime icing?

Rime icing is characterized by its soft, milky, and white appearance. This type of icing forms when supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a surface that is below freezing, creating an accumulation of small, opaque ice particles. The process typically occurs in conditions of high humidity and low temperatures, common during flight in clouds or fog where supercooled water droplets are present.

This distinct formation leads to the appearance and texture associated with rime icing, differentiating it from other types of icing. For instance, thin and clear glaze-like ice typically refers to clear ice, which is smooth and shiny, while heavy, wet ice that can weigh down structures describes a different type of ice accumulation, which may occur with freezing rain. Some icing occurs post-freezing rain situations, but it primarily leads to other types of icing formations rather than rime icing specifically. Therefore, the soft, milky, and white characteristics uniquely identify rime icing.