Evaporation is a cooling process as molecules with greater KE could escape from the liquid surface.
I know that evaporation can happen even when the liquid has the same temperature as the environment. However, without a difference in temperature between the liquid and the environment, there should be no heat transfer and thus, no change in temperature for the liquid.
When the molecules with greater KE has escaped, the average KE of the liquid should be reduced. How can there be no change in temperature for the liquid when evaporation is happening?
My guess: The environment has an increase in temperature as it gains energy from the molecules escaped from the liquid. As there is a temperature difference, there is a heat transfer back to the liquid from the environment so the temperature of the liquid remains constant.
I know that other factors such as humidity and surface area matters too. However, my focus is on the effect of temperature difference.