Which scenario describes freezing rain?

Freezing rain occurs when there is a specific atmospheric condition where precipitation in the form of liquid rain falls through a layer of warm air aloft and then encounters a layer of freezing temperatures just before reaching the ground. This results in the liquid rain becoming supercooled as it descends, and when it makes contact with cold surfaces, it freezes upon impact, forming a glaze of ice.

The correct scenario accurately reflects this process by describing a deep layer of warm air aloft, which allows rain to form and fall while remaining in a liquid state. When this liquid rain descends through a shallow, colder air layer or directly contacts the cold surface, it freezes, causing icy conditions that are characteristic of freezing rain.

The other scenarios do not capture the essential dynamics of freezing rain. For instance, a shallow layer with below freezing temperatures would not support liquid rain formation in the first place, as the conditions would lead to snow or ice pellets instead. A shallow layer aloft with above freezing temperatures does not account for the necessary cold layer close to the ground, and a deep layer of freezing air at the surface would lead to cold rain rather than freezing rain.