Thanks for the great technical analysis. Truthfully, I don't really disagree with your description of the possible atmospheric condition at the time of Noah and before, but I am also not fully convinced. Actually, I would go so far as to say that neither view can be proven.

But here is the real issue to me: God either created the physical world (e.g. climate, weather paterns, seasons, etc.) as we know it in six days and never really changed it (although the flood no doubt had a signnificant impact on land form) or he made a significant change at the time of the flood. If he did make a significant change at the time of the flood by creating rain, seasons, rainbow and the like, then we should give this additional creation (or alteration to creation) full credit. It shouldn't be viewed as only the flood. It is the flood, the creation of seasons as we know them and etc. I would be interested in your view of what Gen. 8:22 means: are the items discussed things that God was reinstituting or were they altered from what they had been before?

It just seems to me that the point is missed if someone takes the view that God created everyting as we know it in six days and then still feels that the rainbow and rain had never been seen prior to Noah.

Whenever it was created, the atmospheric cycle is such a amazing part of creation that I am in awe of it. The mix of balance and power is inspiring. Unfortunatly, many in the world today (some ever presidential candidates) think that man can alter this cycle.