Originally Posted by
ApolloHeli
In order to atomise the fuel and turn it from liquid into gaseous form, energy is required (gaseous state having a higher energy than liquid state). This transfer of energy from the air to the fuel 'sucks' heat out of the air and cools it down slightly. There's far more thermodynamics than I can comprehend going on in reality, but that's one mechanism at work explained in a simple way that can help explain the temperature drop from ambient even at full power.
It’s the same principle as how a refrigerator, or aircon works. Anyone running aircon in their car on a hot day in summer may have noticed the puddle of water that drains out underneath, possibly not so much water in colder conditions. Warmer air can absorb more water in the form of vapour. When the air cools down the vapour turns back to liquid. So, the warmer the atmosphere, the more chance of more intake ice.
As a child, I was given a scientific experiment kit, consisting of two simple thermometers. One was kept dry, the other was kept wet with a water container and a piece of gauze bandage wrapped around the bulb. A chart was supplied, which allowed the relative humidity to be calculated from the two temperature readings. It always surprised me how much cooler the wet bulb was on low humidity days.