The surface-tension-driven convection in laser melting has been simulated by the Galerkin finite element method. The governing laminar, axisymmelric convection equations are solved in a sequential manner by an explicit projection method. The numerical results show a strong dependence of the flow pattern on the value of the temperature coefficient of surface tension (σT). Results are presented for a range of σTvalues typical in steel, -l0−4≤σT+ l0−4N/mK. As the melt depth is more affected than the width, the melt aspect ratio changes due to convection. The melt pool is broad and shallow when σT< 0, and deep and narrow when σT> 0.