Emissivity

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-000855",
  "term": "Emissivity",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definitions": [
    "A measure of an object's ability to emit thermal radiation, relative to that of a perfect black body at the same temperature. It is a dimensionless value between 0 and 1, where 1 represents a perfect emitter. Atmospheric gases, clouds, and the Earth's surface all have characteristic emissivities that influence the planet's radiative balance.",
    "The ability of a surface to emit radiant energy compared to that of a black body at the same temperature and with the same area."
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "blackbody",
    "emittance"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NWS Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/emissivity/"
}