---
title: "SO2: Ocean Characteristics and Boundaries (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SO2
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SO2
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SO2
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SO2.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SO2.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
---

# SO2: Ocean Characteristics and Boundaries

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the characteristics, physical features, and boundaries of the oceans.

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

## Expectations

- **SO2.a**: Analyze and interpret geologic data to describe how the Earth’s ocean basins, ocean and atmosphere were formed.
- **SO2.b**: Construct an argument from evidence to support the role of plate tectonics in shaping the physical features of the ocean and continents.
- **SO2.c**: Analyze and interpret data to understand how the dynamic events at plate boundaries influence the physical features of oceans and continents. (Clarification statement: Events such as tsunamis and earthquakes should be included in this element.)
- **SO2.d**: Develop and use models to investigate geological features from the continental margins to the deep ocean basins. (Clarification statement: Models should provide scale information about the features being represented.)
- **SO2.e**: Ask questions to classify the sources of different types of marine sediments.

## 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.