Earth Science II Oceanography · Geologic, Atmospheric, and Astronomical Processes
Virginia SOL OC.5
Virginia SOL OC.5 is part of the Geologic, Atmospheric, and Astronomical Processes strand in Earth Science II Oceanography (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate and understand that Earth's geologic, atmospheric, and astronomical processes interact with the ocean to shape its physical features, movement, and coastal environments. Below is what OC.5 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice OC.5 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL OC.5 means
Investigate and understand that Earth's geologic, atmospheric, and astronomical processes interact with the ocean to shape its physical features, movement, and coastal environments.
Skills you’ll practice for OC.5
- 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.
Key concepts covered by OC.5
- plate tectonics
- physical features
- claim evaluation
- plate boundaries
- earthquakes
- volcanoes
- seafloor spreading
- hot spots
- sun-moon-Earth model
- spring tides
- neap tides
- prediction
- gravitational forces
- tides
- Earth-moon-sun system
- tide table
- tidal range
- diurnal tides
- semi-diurnal tides
- mixed tides
- wave formation
- wind duration
- fetch
- wind speed
- model development
- wave types
- coastal shorelines
- wave dynamics
- barrier islands
- sea level rise
- storm waves
- coastline structure
- waves
- sea level change
- research
- coastline stabilization
- hard stabilization
- soft stabilization
- comparison
- oceanic sediments
- sediment classification
- origin
- composition
How to study and practice SOL OC.5
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether OC.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 OC.5
What is Virginia SOL OC.5?
SOL OC.5 is a Earth Science II Oceanography Standard of Learning in the Geologic, Atmospheric, and Astronomical Processes strand. It expects students to 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 skills does SOL OC.5 cover?
SOL OC.5 is assessed on 11 skills: 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.
What strand of Earth Science II Oceanography is SOL OC.5 in?
SOL OC.5 belongs to the Geologic, Atmospheric, and Astronomical Processes reporting strand of the Earth Science II Oceanography Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL OC.5?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether OC.5 is already solid, then work the 11 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.