The statement that best describes the function of convection currents is:
2. Convection currents play a role in moving Earth's outer core.
Explanation:
1. Convection currents are movements of fluid that result from the differences in temperature and density within that fluid. In the case of the Earth's outer core, the heat from the inner core causes the molten iron in the outer core to rise and the cooler, denser iron to sink, creating convection currents.
2. These convection currents in the outer core are responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field through a process called the geodynamo. The movement of the molten iron due to convection currents helps create the magnetic field that surrounds the Earth and protects it from solar winds and cosmic radiation.
3. While the other statements mention aspects related to convection currents, such as their role in the movement of continental plates or the heating of magma, the most accurate statement describing their function is their involvement in moving Earth's outer core and generating the magnetic field.
