Earth Science II Oceanography · Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions
Virginia SOL OC.4
Virginia SOL OC.4 is part of the Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions strand in Earth Science II Oceanography (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate and understand interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere that influence weather, climate, and ocean systems. Below is what OC.4 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice OC.4 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL OC.4 means
Investigate and understand interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere that influence weather, climate, and ocean systems.
Skills you’ll practice for OC.4
- Explain how water moderates regional climate and local weather conditions.
- Develop and use a model to explain why the Coriolis Effect occurs and how it influences global wind patterns and oceanic surface currents.
- Identify major surface currents, their characteristics (temperature, origin, and direction of motion) and explain how they affect local climates.
- Predict the formation and severity of low-pressure tropical systems over the ocean and describe potential hazards when they reach land.
- Develop and use a model to explain interrelationships among wind, ocean current, and climate patterns.
- Explain the atmospheric causes of Ekman transport and its effect on marine and climate systems.
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about how climate variability and change influence ocean currents and stratification.
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about how atmospheric changes affect ocean systems.
Key concepts covered by OC.4
- water moderation
- regional climate
- local weather
- Coriolis Effect
- model development
- wind patterns
- ocean currents
- surface currents
- temperature
- climate effects
- tropical systems
- prediction
- hazards
- landfall
- wind-ocean-current-climate model
- interrelationships
- Ekman transport
- atmospheric causes
- marine systems
- climate systems
- climate variability
- stratification
- claim evaluation
- atmospheric changes
- ocean systems
How to study and practice SOL OC.4
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether OC.4 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 OC.4
What is Virginia SOL OC.4?
SOL OC.4 is a Earth Science II Oceanography Standard of Learning in the Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions strand. It expects students to investigate and understand interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere that influence weather, climate, and ocean systems.
What skills does SOL OC.4 cover?
SOL OC.4 is assessed on 8 skills: explain how water moderates regional climate and local weather conditions; develop and use a model to explain why the Coriolis Effect occurs and how it influences global wind patterns and oceanic surface currents; identify major surface currents, their characteristics (temperature, origin, and direction of motion) and explain how they affect local climates; predict the formation and severity of low-pressure tropical systems over the ocean and describe potential hazards when they reach land; develop and use a model to explain interrelationships among wind, ocean current, and climate patterns; explain the atmospheric causes of Ekman transport and its effect on marine and climate systems; make, support, and evaluate a claim about how climate variability and change influence ocean currents and stratification; make, support, and evaluate a claim about how atmospheric changes affect ocean systems.
What strand of Earth Science II Oceanography is SOL OC.4 in?
SOL OC.4 belongs to the Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions reporting strand of the Earth Science II Oceanography Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL OC.4?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether OC.4 is already solid, then work the 8 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.