Over the past 100 years, the estimated rise of global sea level is by 10-25 cm or more. Which one of the following has maximum contribution in it?

Correct option is A

The thermal expansion of ocean waters due to global warming is the largest contributor to sea level rise. As ocean water heats up, it expands, contributing significantly to the observed rise in global sea levels over the past century. Although melting glaciers and ice sheets (particularly from Greenland and Antarctica) also contribute to sea level rise, thermal expansion accounts for the majority of it.
Information Booster: 1. Thermal expansion: As water heats, its volume increases, leading to sea level rise.
2. Glacier and ice-cap melting: Adds fresh water to the oceans but contributes less than thermal expansion.
3. Greenland ice sheet: Melting is a concern but is not the largest contributor yet.
4. Terrestrial water storage: Includes human activities like groundwater extraction but plays a minor role in sea level rise. Human activities such as groundwater depletion and damming affect local water levels but have a smaller overall global impact on sea levels.