"Heat diffusion" refers to the process of heat spreading out or moving from a hotter object to a colder object, creating a more balanced temperature. Full definition
However, balancing this effect is the neglect of heat diffusion into the thermocline which would reduce the ocean cooling. (realclimate.org)
Cuffey developed a technique to combine these temperature measurements, which are smoothed as a result of heat diffusion in the ice, with isotopic measurements of old ice to come up with an estimated temperature of 11.3 degrees, plus or minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, warming since the depths of the ice age. (sciencedaily.com)
A researcher describes how his mathematical model based on heat diffusion reveals the critical role played by large animals in dispersing nutrients (scientificamerican.com)