What are the three types of structural icing?

The three types of structural icing are indeed categorized as Clear, Mixed, and Rime icing. Clear icing occurs when supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a surface, forming a smooth and transparent layer of ice. This type of icing can create significant aerodynamic drag and is often hazardous because it can be hard to detect visually.

Mixed icing features both clear and rime characteristics, which means it contains supercooled water and ice particles, showcasing a combination of their effects. This type of icing typically occurs in clouds containing both larger droplet sizes and smaller ice crystals.

Rime icing, on the other hand, forms when smaller supercooled water droplets freeze quickly upon impact, leading to a more opaque and crystalline structure. This type of icing is usually more easily detectable and forms in conditions where there are cold temperatures and abundant small droplets.

Understanding these three types helps pilots and engineers assess the potential effects of icing on aircraft performance and safety, making it a crucial aspect of meteorology and aviation safety. The other options do not accurately describe the standard classification of structural icing phenomena, reinforcing the correctness of B as the right choice.