What is the primary factor affecting the amount of icing experienced?

The primary factor affecting the amount of icing experienced on an aircraft is indeed the size of water droplets. When flying through clouds or precipitation, the characteristics of the water present significantly influence icing conditions. Larger water droplets have a higher potential for impact and can more easily freeze upon contact with the aircraft's surfaces, leading to the accumulation of ice. This is particularly relevant in supercooled liquid water situations, where the water remains liquid below freezing temperatures.

The size of the droplets is crucial because larger droplets can remain in liquid form longer and are more likely to freeze quickly on contact, forming ice that can affect the aircraft’s aerodynamic performance. Smaller droplets tend to evaporate upon contact or may not accumulate as rapidly, leading to less severe icing conditions.

While other factors like air temperature, wind speed, and altitude do play roles in icing conditions, they are often interconnected with how the size of the water droplets impacts icing. For example, while lower temperatures might lead to ice freezing faster, they are less impactful if the water droplets are small. Thus, understanding the size of water droplets provides the best insight into the potential severity of icing on an aircraft.