| A | B |
|---|
| Air pressure | the force exerted by atmospheric gases pushing on an object. |
| Atmosphere | the layer of gases that surrounds the planet and makes conditions on Earth suitable for living things. |
| Atmospheric layers | the division of earth’s atmosphere into levels that are associated with temperature change. |
| Condensation | the process where water vapor changes to water droplets in the atmosphere. |
| Coriolis effect | the process by which moving air and water turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth’s rotation. |
| Dew | moisture that forms when water vapor condenses directly onto a surface. |
| Evaporation | the process where energy from the sun causes water to change from a liquid to a gas. |
| Exosphere | the outermost layer of earth’s atmosphere which blends into outer space. |
| Frost | moisture that forms when water vapor changes from gas directly to ice crystals on a surface. |
| Global winds | large cells of moving air formed by uneven heating of Earth’s surface between the equator and the poles. |
| Greenhouse effect | the natural heating that occurs when certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap heat. |
| Greenhouse gases | atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that contribute to the greenhouse effect. |
| Groundwater flow | the process by which water flows underground. |
| Infiltration | the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. |
| Jet streams | fast-moving ribbons of air that blow near the top of the troposphere. |
| Land breeze | a local wind that blows from the land to the sea. |
| Local winds | winds that develop due to unequal heating of earth’s surface over small regions. |
| Mesosphere | the middle and coldest layer of earth’s atmosphere. |
| Ozone | a form of oxygen that absorbs harmful radiation from the sun. |
| Polar easterlies | global winds that flow from east to west near the earth’s poles. |
| Polar jet stream | a jet stream that can bring down cold polar conditions from the north. |
| Precipitation | water falling from clouds whose form is determined by air temperature. |
| Prevailing westerlies | global winds that flow from west to east in the mid-latitudes. |
| Sea breeze | a local wind that blows from the sea to the land. |
| Stratosphere | the layer of earth’s atmosphere that contains the ozone layer. |
| Subtropical jet stream | a jet stream that can bring warm tropical conditions from the south. |
| Surface runoff | water that flows across earth’s surface to reach rivers, lakes, or oceans. |
| Thermosphere | the layer of earth’s atmosphere that is very hot and contains the ionosphere (a region of charged gas particles). |
| Trace gases | small amounts of gases in earth’s atmosphere. |
| Trade winds | global winds that flow from east to west near the equator. |
| Transpiration | the process where plants release water vapor to the atmosphere through openings in their leaves called stomata. |
| Troposphere | the layer of earth’s atmosphere closest to earth with contains the water cycle. |
| Water cycle | the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land. |
