radiative diffusivity

radiative diffusivity

[′rād·ē‚ād·iv ‚di‚fyü′siv·əd·ē] (meteorology) A characteristic property of a given layer of the atmosphere which governs the rate at which that layer will warm or cool as a result of the transfer, within it, of infrared radiation; the radiative diffusivity is dependent upon the temperature and water-vapor content of the layer of air and upon the pressure within the layer.