 I know what I said, Scott. No need to remind me. You clearly stated that "He says there is no IR-absorbed energy from below to fuel the evaporation b/c the IR source is from a lower temp." I said no such thing. I didn't mention IR absorption at all. And I distinctly referred to DWLWIR (which is from ABOVE, from the cool atmosphere to the warm surface): "... there is no positive transfer of energy by LW from the atmosphere to the surface, unless it comes down as heat (which can only ever move spontaneously from warmer to cooler). The LW transfer is UP and only up, from sfc to atm." Just admit that you lied, Scott, and be done with it. Stop with the hole-digging. 