Continental Shelf Limits: The Scientific and Legal Interface

Peter J. Cook, Chris M. Carleton

Oxford University Press, Oct 19, 2000 - Law - 384 pages

Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea lays down the rules and regulations governing claims to a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles for the 130 coastal States and entities that have ratified or acceded to it. This book is designed to help those coastal States implement the provisions of Article 76, covering the technical issues involved and explaining the interface between the legal concepts contained within the article. It covers all aspects that will have to be considered by a coastal State if it wishes to make a claim under the Convention, including the characteristics of continental margins, distance determination, bathymetric data collection. geological and geophysical techniques, and boundary conditions.

Contents

• Introduction: 3
• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: 8
• The Major Features of the Convention: 9
• Institutions Created by the Convention: 14
• Monitoring Future Developments: 15
• References: 16
• Legal Aspects of the Continental Shelf: 17
• Overview of Article 76 Provisions: 18
• Summary of Procedure for a Coastal State to Follow in Determining the Outer Limits of Its Continental Shelf: 24
• Characteristics of Continental Margins: 25
• Continental Margin Morphology and Form: 29
• Geology of Continental Margins: 32
• Continental Margin Types and the Application of Article 76: 54
• Conclusion: 59
• Resources of the Continental Margin and International Law: 64
• Access of Countries to the Continental Margin: 66
• States Responsibilities Arising from Claims to the Continental Margin: 72
• States Opportunities Arising from Claims to the Continental Margin: 75
• The Challenges for States Claiming the Continental Margin: 81
• References: 82
• Methodology: 85
• Geodetic Techniques: 87
• National and International Datums: 93
• Geodetic Positioning: 96
• Theory of Errors: 97
• Analysis of Survey Networks: 99
• Distance Determination: 100
• References: 104
• Historical Methods of Positioning at Sea: 105
• Astronomic Observations: 106
• Dead Reckoning Measurements of Speed and Direction: 107
• An Introduction to Satellite Positioning Systems: 108
• Horizontal Datums: 110
• Satellite Positioning Methods: 111
• Positioning by GPS: 114
• GPS Equipment: 119
• The Future of GPS: 120
• References: 123
• Historical Methods of Depth Measurement: 124
• Mechanical Methods: 125
• The SingleBeam Echo Sounder: 129
• Summary: 138
• PresentDay Methods of Depth Measurement: 139
• Interferometric Bathymetry: 142
• Differential Phase Methods: 143
• MultipleNarrowBeam Methods: 144
• Comparative Advantages: 146
• The Effect of Instrument Horizontal and Vertical Positioning: 148
• Resulting Seabed Bathymetric Information Content: 149
• Application to the Definition of the 2500m Contour: 153
• The Potential and Limitations of Bathymetry Derived from Sea Surface Altimetry: 156
• Summary: 157
• References: 158
• Interpretation of Bathymetry: 160
• Their Use in Delimitation: 162
• Producing a Bathymetry Map: 164
• Contouring: 174
• References: 176
• Seismic Reflection and Refraction Methods: 177
• WideAngle Reflection: 181
• Determination of Sediment Thickness: 186
• Planning a Seismic Survey to Determine Sediment Thickness: 188
• Continental Margins as Viewed from Seismic Profiles: 189
• References: 192
• Gravity and Magnetic Methods: 194
• Data Acquisition and Presentation: 195
• Characteristics of Crustal Types and the ContinentalOceanic Boundary: 204
• References: 213
• Geological Techniques: 214
• Sampling: 216
• Corers: 217
• Powered Corers: 219
• Coring Using Drillships: 220
• Underwater Vehicles: 227
• References: 229
• Data Sources Management and Presentation: 230
• Bathymetry: 231
• Additional Data and Their Uses: 232
• Sources of Sediment Thickness Data: 239
• European Geosclence Data: 241
• The World Data Center System: 246
• WebBased Information: 247
• References: 249
• Establishing the Case: 251
• Initial Assessment: 253
• No Extended Continental Shelf: 256
• Delineating the Foot of the Slope: 258
• Outermost Limits: 261
• Determining the Outer Limit of the Continental Shelf: 262
• Collecting New Information: 264
• References: 266
• The Practical Realization of the Continental Shelf Limit: 268
• Foot of the Slope Plus 60 M: 270
• Limits Based on Foot of the Slope and Sediment Thickness: 274
• Outermost Limits: 278
• Conclusion: 281
• Other Issues: 283
• Ridge Issues: 285
• Definitions: 286
• Types of Ridges: 288
• Applying the Ridge Provisions of Article 76: 298
• Article 766: 300
• Conclusions: 305
• References: 306
• Deep Sea Fan Issues: 308
• The Scientific and Legal Interface: 310
• Delimitation Issues: 312
• Boundaries beyond 200 M: 313
• References: 318
• Annexes: 319
• Glossary of Technical Terms: 321
• Key Provisions of UNCLOS Relating to the Continental Shelf: 331
• Annex IICommission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: 342
• Annex II to the Final Act Statement of Understanding Concerning a Specific Method to Be Used in Establishing the Outer Edge of the Continental M...: 344
• 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf: 345
• Acronyms: 348
• Index: 351

Bibliographic information

• Title: Continental Shelf Limits: The Scientific and Legal Interface
• Editors: Peter J. Cook, Chris M. Carleton
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2000
• ISBN: 0198027869, 9780198027867
• Length: 384 pages
• Subjects: Law / International; Law / Maritime; Science / Earth Sciences / Geology; Science / Earth Sciences / Oceanography