The heat economy of a rimed cylinder

Abstract

Abstract A method is described for calculating the surface temperature of a slender cylinder which is moved through a supercooled cloud and becomes covered with rime ice. When the surface temperature reaches 0°C the ice formation proceeds at the maximum possible rate; the associated liquid‐water content of the cloud is calculated and found to be usually less than the maximum theoretical value inside a deep cumulus cloud. The rotating‐cylinder technique of determining water content and drop‐size distribution cannot therefore be used without consideration of the heat economy, and may otherwise lead to large underestimates of water concentration in severe icing conditions.