As humans continue to pour greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, oceans have tempered the effect. The seas have absorbed more than ninety percent of the heat from these gases. But it is taking a toll on our oceans. Last year set a new record for ocean heating. Many people think of global warming and climate change as synonyms. But scientists prefer to use climate change when describing the complex shifts now affecting weather and climate systems of our planet. Rising seas is one of those climate change effects. Average sea levels have swelled over eight inches since the last decade of the nineteenth century. The change in sea levels is linked to three primary factors all induced by ongoing global climate change. The first factor is thermal expansion. Water expands on heating up. About half of the sea level rise over the past twenty five years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.