Earth Science II Advanced Survey · Energy Transfer in Earth's Systems
Virginia SOL ESII.5
Virginia SOL ESII.5 is part of the Energy Transfer in Earth's Systems strand in Earth Science II Advanced Survey (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate and understand that energy transfer into and out of Earth's systems is affected by the dynamics of the sun-Earth system and human activities. Below is what ESII.5 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice ESII.5 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL ESII.5 means
Investigate and understand that energy transfer into and out of Earth's systems is affected by the dynamics of the sun-Earth system and human activities.
Skills you’ll practice for ESII.5
- Develop and use a model to explain how Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun and solar incidence affect atmospheric and biological systems (seasonal changes, length of day, and circadian rhythm).
- Explain global climate trends over geologic time using Milankovitch cycles and evaluate how current climate change differs in cause, rate, and scale from these natural cycles.
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about how solar flares and coronal mass ejections affect technology.
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about the effect of sunspot cycles on global average temperatures and compare their effect to how human activities are changing Earth's climate.
Key concepts covered by ESII.5
- Earth rotation model
- solar incidence
- atmospheric systems
- biological systems
- seasonal changes
- Milankovitch cycles
- climate trends
- geologic time
- current climate change
- solar flares
- coronal mass ejections
- technology impact
- claim evaluation
- sunspot cycles
- global temperatures
- human climate impact
- claim comparison
How to study and practice SOL ESII.5
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether ESII.5 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL ESII.5
What is Virginia SOL ESII.5?
SOL ESII.5 is a Earth Science II Advanced Survey Standard of Learning in the Energy Transfer in Earth's Systems strand. It expects students to investigate and understand that energy transfer into and out of Earth's systems is affected by the dynamics of the sun-Earth system and human activities.
What skills does SOL ESII.5 cover?
SOL ESII.5 is assessed on 4 skills: develop and use a model to explain how Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun and solar incidence affect atmospheric and biological systems (seasonal changes, length of day, and circadian rhythm); explain global climate trends over geologic time using Milankovitch cycles and evaluate how current climate change differs in cause, rate, and scale from these natural cycles; make, support, and evaluate a claim about how solar flares and coronal mass ejections affect technology; make, support, and evaluate a claim about the effect of sunspot cycles on global average temperatures and compare their effect to how human activities are changing Earth's climate.
What strand of Earth Science II Advanced Survey is SOL ESII.5 in?
SOL ESII.5 belongs to the Energy Transfer in Earth's Systems reporting strand of the Earth Science II Advanced Survey Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL ESII.5?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether ESII.5 is already solid, then work the 4 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.