What is the primary reason for sea level rise associated with climate change?

The primary reason for sea level rise associated with climate change is the melting of polar ice caps. As global temperatures increase due to climate change, polar regions experience significant warming, leading to the melting of the glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. This process contributes directly to the rising sea levels because the water that was locked in the ice now flows into the oceans.

Additionally, the warming of seawater itself causes thermal expansion, which also contributes to rising sea levels. The combination of melted ice contributing water and the expansion of water as it warms leads to an increase in overall sea levels, which poses risks to coastal communities, ecosystems, and weather patterns.

The other options, such as increased rainfall, decreased water usage, and tectonic activity, do not significantly contribute to sea level rise in the context of climate change. Increased rainfall might temporarily elevate water levels in certain areas, but it does not have a lasting impact on global sea levels. Decreased water usage does not influence sea levels at all, and tectonic activity generally affects sea levels on a geological time scale, rather than in the context of current climate change dynamics.