Question

In an area of the deep ocean, hot magma emerges from a crack in Earth’s crust. Which statement describes what will happen to the seawater above the crack as a result of convection?

Water molecules will break apart and flow in a circular pattern.
Water molecules will bond together and rise upward.
The water will become more dense and sink downward.
The water will become less dense and rise upward.

Answer 1

The water will become less dense and rise upward.

Heating from the magma causes the seawater to expand and decrease in density, so it rises and sets up convective circulation with cooler, denser water sinking to replace it.