Angel island:
Act 1 - The beggining of the game when Sonic transforms into Super Sonic to get onto angel island. Knuckles ambushes Sonic and he is dazed. While he regains conciouncse he sees Knuckles to see he has escaped with the chaos emeralds, Using them to power the fallen Death egg. Half of the level takes place in a tropical wasteland, another takes place in a tranquil fire forest.
Act 2 - Sort of like Act 1.

Hydro city:
Act 1 - Knuckles appears at the top of a cliff and hits a switch making you fall into an underground water city.
Act 2 - Act 2 has a different background.

Marble Garden:
Act 1 - After defeating Eggman again a chain reaction starts in the water pumps which blasts Sonic and Tails into the marble garden. A garden with marble ruins.
Act 2 - Act 2 takes place in the bushes on Marble Garden zone.

Carnival night:
Act 1 - Tails is tired and drifts into Carnival night zone. A light filled amusment park.
Act 2 - The same as Act 1.

Ice cap:
Act 1 - After defeating Eggman Sonic jumps into the cannon and blasts himself over the hills onto a snowboard and goes into the underground caverns of Ice cap.
Act 2 - Act 2 takes place on top of ice cap.

Launch base:
Act 1 - Sonic drills deep into the snow and finally arrives in what was supposed to be Mining ore zone. But Eggman destroyed it to make room for the death egg launch site.
Act 2 - Near the canyon at the back leading straight to the death egg.

You forgot to mention the part of Hydro City Act 2 when in the beginning a wall closes in on you.