Abstract. Not all of the specific energy consumed when evaporating water into the atmosphere (λ) is due to the latent heat of vaporization (L). What L represents is the specific energy necessary to overcome affinities among liquid water molecules, neglecting the specific work done against atmospheric pressure (p) when water expands in volume (V) from liquid to gas (pV work). Here, in the one-dimensional context typifying micrometeorology, the pV work done in such an expansion is derived based on the Stefan flow velocity at the surface boundary, yielding a simple function of the virtual temperature; additionally, an empirical formula is provided that approximates λ quite accurately over a useful range of environmental conditions. Neglect of this pV work term has caused a systematic 3–4 % underestimation of λ, and to some extent inhibited closure of the surface energy balance.