It is shown that the IR radiation extinction can be separated into aerosol and molecular components using a multiple regressive analysis of a set of radiation extinction coefficients e(l) in the wavelength range l = 0,55-12mm. The aerosol extinction coefficient at l = 0,55mm and the H2O vapor partial pressure are used as predictors in a two parametric representation of the e(l) coefficient. A quantitative comparison between the derived dependence of the molecular absorption coefficient at l= 10,6mm on the H2O vapor partial pressure and the data obtained under laboratory conditions has been made. These data are shown to be in good mutual agreement. In a real atmosphere this dependence does not in fact differ from a linear one.