Final answer:
The Atlantic Ocean is growing due to tectonic plate movement at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is further affected by rising sea levels caused by melting glaciers and thermal expansion from climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Atlantic Ocean increases in size primarily due to the process of seafloor spreading at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where tectonic plates are diverging. As a result, Europe and North America are moving apart at roughly 5 meters (m) per century.
To calculate the area of new ocean floor created each century, one can multiply the length of the Mid-Atlantic Rift (5000 kilometers) by the distance that Europe and North America are separating (5 meters), bearing in mind the conversion from kilometers to meters (1 km = 1000 m). Moreover, the ocean's size is affected by the rising sea levels, a result of climate change leading to melting glaciers and thermal expansion due to increased water temperatures.
Speaking to the rate of sea level rise, satellite measurements have recorded an average increase of approximately 0.06 inches (0.15 cm) per year. Since 1993, this rate has accelerated to about 0.11 to 0.14 inches (0.28 to 0.36 cm) per year, influenced by melting ice—the largest contributor—as well as thermal expansion. These factors, along with the dynamic nature of Earth's hydrosphere, contribute to the changing geography of the Atlantic Ocean.