Two theoretical models are presented which allow computing the efficiency with which aerosol particles are collected by simple ice crystal plates. The effect of a possible internal electric charge distribution in ice crystals on aerosol scavenging is investigated. It is shown that the capture efficiency of an ice crystal is considerably affected by such an internal charge distribution in the aerosol size range 0.05≤r≤1.0 μm. The present theoretical results are found to agree satisfactorily with field observations presently available. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1991