Answer:
Option (C)
Step-by-step explanation:
The water at the top portion of the ocean is comparatively hotter than the lower portion. It is because of the absorption of sunlight as the sunlight is directly incident on its surface. This absorbed incoming heat energy increases the temperature of the water, as a result of which it becomes less denser than the bottom cold water. It is also because of this reason, the heat energy is transferred from the hydrosphere region to the atmosphere due to the continuous interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere.
Thus, the top layer of ocean is warmest because of the high absorption of heat, where the surface warmer water are less denser than the cold bottom water.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C).