| A | B |
|---|
| abyssal plain | the vast floor of the deep ocean |
| condensation | the process by which water vapor changes into liquid water |
| continental shelf | a gradually sloping portion of the ocean floor that is made up of continental crust |
| continental slope | the border between continental crust and oceanic crust where the ocean floor drops in depth |
| coral reef | a large, delicate structure formed by the skeletons of small animals called corals |
| current | a steady, stream-like movement of ocean water |
| evaporation | the process by which liquid water changes into water vapor |
| groundwater | water located within the gaps and pores in rocks below Earth’s surface |
| intertidal zone | the area of the ocean between the high-tide point and the low-tide point |
| near-shore zone | the area of ocean over the continental shelf that is relatively shallow |
| open-ocean zone | the area of ocean over the continental slope and abyssal plain |
| precipitation | solid or liquid water that falls from the air to Earth |
| water cycle | the process by which water moves above, across, and through Earth’s crust and ecosystems |
