You won't get a straight answer from him.
Energy stored in the atmosphere has only two directions in which to escape. Outwards to space. Or inwards back to the surface.
There is only one direction energy may travel...and that is to cooler pastures. Energy can't move spontaneously from cool to warm.
There is only one direction energy may travel...and that is to cooler pastures.
Which is why the Sun's surface can't radiate toward the corona and why the Earth's
surface can't radiate toward the thermosphere. DURR.