Weather features associated with aircraft icing conditions: a case study.

Area of Science:

• Atmospheric Science
• Aviation Meteorology
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Aircraft icing poses a significant aviation hazard, responsible for numerous accidents.
• Understanding icing conditions is crucial for flight safety, especially in complex terrain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the meteorological factors contributing to severe aircraft icing on a C-212-200 aircraft.
• To analyze the role of local weather phenomena and topography in the formation of hazardous icing conditions.

Main Methods:

• Continuous atmospheric profiling using a microwave radiometric profiler (MP-3000A).
• Cloud hydrometeor analysis with a Cloud Aerosol and Precipitation Spectrometer (CAPS).
• Ice nuclei concentration measurement and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations.

Main Results:

• Topography generated mesoscale lows and gravity waves, leading to icing conditions.
• Moisture, wind, temperature, stability, and shear were critical factors in icing.
• Severe icing occurred locally despite a lack of synoptic-scale risk indicators.

Conclusions:

• Local topographical effects can create significant aircraft icing risks.
• Comprehensive analysis of mesoscale and microscale weather is essential for predicting icing.
• This case highlights the potential for unexpected icing events in mountainous regions.