---
title: "SO6: Seawater Properties and Structure (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SO6
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SO6
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SO6
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SO6.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SO6.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
---

# SO6: Seawater Properties and Structure

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information on the physical and chemical properties of seawater and how they influence the structure of the ocean.

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

## Expectations

- **SO6.a**: Develop and use a model to demonstrate how the ocean and land are connected by the hydrologic and other biogeochemical cycles.
- **SO6.b**: Plan and carry out an investigation to discover the unique properties of seawater when compared to fresh water. (Clarification statement: Water quality monitoring could be used to address this element.)
- **SO6.c**: Ask questions to investigate how the water column is structured based upon the physical properties of seawater (temperature, salinity, density).
- **SO6.d**: Develop an argument based on evidence to support the claim that the physical properties of sea water influence the evolution, adaptations and distributions of marine organisms. (Clarification statement: This should include addressing how invertebrate and vertebrate organisms are differently impacted by sea water properties.)

## 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.