What is the primary reason global warming is causing sea levels to rise?

The primary reason global warming leads to rising sea levels is due to melting ice and thermal expansion. As global temperatures rise, polar ice caps and glaciers melt at an accelerated rate, contributing freshwater to the oceans. This melting of ice contributes significantly to the increase in ocean volume. Additionally, as the temperature of ocean water increases, it expands. This thermal expansion of seawater further contributes to rising sea levels. Together, these two phenomena—melting ice and thermal expansion—are the dominant factors driving the observed increases in sea level associated with climate change.

Other concepts, such as increased precipitation, irrigation, and geological processes like continental drift have minimal or no direct impact on sea level rise relative to the effects of melting ice and thermal expansion. Increased precipitation may lead to short-term variations in sea level regionally but does not account for the long-term trends observed globally. Similarly, while the drainage of wetlands can have localized effects, it does not significantly influence overall sea levels like thermal expansion and ice melt do. Ocean basin compression due to tectonic activity is also a slow process and doesn't significantly contribute to current sea level changes in the context of global warming.