Geologic, Atmospheric, and Astronomical Processes
Virginia SOL OC.5
Investigate and understand that Earth's geologic, atmospheric, and astronomical processes interact with the ocean to shape its physical features, movement, and coastal environments.
What students need to be able to do
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about the role of plate tectonics in shaping the physical features of the ocean and continents.
- Explain how dynamic events at plate boundaries (earthquakes, volcanoes, seafloor spreading, and hot spots) influence oceans and continents.
- Develop and use a model to explain the relative position of the sun, moon, and Earth to predict spring and neap tides.
- Explain the role of gravitational forces among Earth, moon, and sun and resulting tides.
- Interpret a tide table to determine tidal range and the type of daily tides (diurnal, semi-diurnal, mixed, and continental interference).
- Develop and use a model to explain how factors (wind duration, fetch, and wind speed) lead to the formation of ocean waves.
- Compare different types of waves and how coastal shorelines change the dynamic of the waves.
- Develop and use a model to explain the formation of barrier islands and how they form a defense against rising sea level and storm waves.
- Research and describe events of how waves, tides, and/or sea level change affected the physical structure of a local coastline.
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of hard and soft stabilization methods on coastline stabilization.
- Research and describe the origin, composition, particle size, thickness, and distribution of oceanic sediments, including their classification.