Final answer:
Global sea level rise is primarily caused by the melting of glaciers and ice caps, and the thermal expansion of ocean water as temperatures rise. Factors like land changes and local sea level influences also play a role.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that contribute to global sea level rise include melting of glaciers and ice caps, thermal expansion of water as ocean temperatures rise, and the addition of water from rivers, lakes, and sea ice melting. The melting glaciers and ice caps provide a significant input of liquid water into the ocean, previously stored as ice. Thermal expansion occurs because water volume expands as it warms, causing the ocean to occupy a larger volume and leading to higher sea levels. Additionally, factors such as land elevation changes, local currents, winds, salinity, and water temperatures can influence relative sea level rise in specific regions.
It is important to note that while an increase in precipitation adds more water to the system, it does not directly cause sea level rise unless it is a long-term change that leads to more water running off into the oceans than being stored on land as ice or in reservoirs. While changes in water density and salinity can affect ocean currents and local sea levels, the primary drivers of overall global sea level rise are the melting of ice and the expansion of water volume due to temperature increases.