High in the atmosphere ozone acts as a shield. Closer to Earth ozone is a harmful pollutant. Changing Global Cloudiness Clouds are visible collections of small particles of water or ice, or both, suspended in the atmosphere. They are one of the most obvious and influential features of Earth's climate system. They are also one of its most variable components.
Aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the air.
Taken as a whole these particles tend to cool Earth's atmosphere, and are an important factor in global change. The study of clouds, where they occur, and their characteristics, play a key role in the understanding of climate change. Whether a given cloud will heat or cool the surface of the Earth depends on several factors. Polar Ice Polar ice consists of sea ice formed from the freezing of sea water, and ice sheets and glaciers formed from the accumulation and compaction of falling snow. Every three to seven years during the months of December and January, fish in the coastal waters off of South America virtually vanish, causing the fishing business to come to a standstill.