---
title: "SG5: Earth's Surface Processes (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SG5
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SG5
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SG5
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SG5.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SG5.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/27a08dc6-416e-11e7-ba71-02bd89fdd987
source_last_changed: 2025-05-29
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# SG5: Earth's Surface Processes

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to explain the effects of Earth’s surface processes.

- Subject: Science
- Appears in: High School, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md

## Expectations

- **SG5.a**: Ask questions to understand the effects of regional climate on weathering processes and soil formation.
- **SG5.b**: Construct an argument from evidence to explain how sedimentary rock formation and chemical weathering changes greenhouse gas concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere.
- **SG5.c**: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to characterize the formation of landforms in desert and glacial environments. (Clarification statement: Information sources should include, geologic maps, topographic maps, cross-sectional maps, and remote sensing data.)
- **SG5.d**: Develop and use models to examine the erosional and depositional features of various coastal systems
- **SG5.e**: Plan and carry out an investigation to analyze how surface water and groundwater act as major agents of change in fluvial systems. (Clarification statement: Include surface reservoirs, groundwater reservoirs, and fluvial systems, as well as the processes of infiltration, runoff, evaporation, and precipitation.)

## Georgia Milestones coverage

No Georgia Milestones blueprint cites this standard.

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.