 that IR from a cool atmosphere to a warmer surface will actually separately heat (directly raise the temperature of) the surface, so that this added energy doing the extra heating needs to be evaporated away? And by pointing out this stupidity, I'm all of a sudden a Slayer? The ocean surface isn't warmed by LW from the atmosphere, Scott. A child would understand this. It cools by LW to the atmosphere. Just as it cools by evaporation and conduction to the atmosphere. 