| A | B |
|---|
| troposphere | layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground; contains 75 percent of the atmospheric gases, dust, ice, and liquid water and is where weather, smog, and clouds occur |
| ionosphere | layer of electrically charged particles in the thermosphere |
| ozone layer | stratospheric layer with a high concentration of ozone; protects Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation |
| ultraviolet radiation | type of energy that comes to Earth from the sun and is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer; can cause cancer and other health problems in many types of plants and animals |
| chlorofluorocarbon | (CFC's) group of chemical compounds used in refrigerators, aerosol sprays, and foam packaging that destroy ozone molecules. |
| radiation | transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves |
| conduction | transfer of energy that occurs when molecules bump into each other. |
| convection | energy transfer that occurs in gases and liquids |
| hydrosphere | all the water that is found at Earth's surface, of which 97 percent is salt water and only three percent is fresh water |
| water cycle | continuous movement of water between Earth's surface and the atmosphere through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation |
| Coriolis effect | changes the direction of all free-moving objects to the right north of the equator and to the left to the south of the equator; creates wind patterns across the world and results from the rotation of Earth. |
| jet stream | narrow belt of strong winds that blow near the top of the troposphere |
| sea breeze | daily movement of air created when cooler, denser air moving inland from the ocean forces warm air over the land to rise |
| land breeze | nightly movement of air created when cold air over the land forces up the warmer air above the sea |
