Soundings of temperature and specific humidity calculated assuming radiative-convective equilibrium over surfaces at different heights show only small variations in surface temperature and specific humidity with surface height. Calculated surface temperatures decrease at ~2 ¿C km-1, with all other parameters held fixed. Calculated temperatures aloft in the upper troposphere above surfaces at different heights differ by 10¿--20 ¿C; those above surfaces at 3000--5000 m are significantly warmer. These differences support the contention that an elevated terrain can force significant atmospheric circulation through its effect on equilibrium temperatures, as occurs in the case of the Tibetan Plateau forcing the south Asian monsoon. ¿ 1999 American Geophysical Union