GEODETIC METHODOLOGIES (CHAPTER 3)

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GEODETIC METHODOLOGIES (CHAPTER 3)
Harald Brekke
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Definitions

• The CLCS follows the IHO (1990) standard
  abbreviation for a nautical mile, M
• The CLCS follows the IHB (1929) standard for the
  length of one nautical mile
• 1 M 1 852 m
• The CLCS, following article 84 of UNCLOS,
  requires the datum used by a coastal State to be
  specified

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Recommended datum

• The CLCS recommends the use of datums ITRF94 or
  WGS84 (G873) as they are regarded as equivalent
  realisations of an International Terrestrial
  Reference System (ITRS)
• Geodetic coordinates in one system will be
  regarded by the CLCS as equivalent in the other
  (See 3.2.13)

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Required information

• The submitting State should provide
• Coordinates of the outer limit of the continental
  shelf in an ITRS adopted by the CLCS
• Transformation parameters between the reference
  system used in the submission and an ITRS adopted
  by the CLCS
• Full information of the scientific methodology
  employed to determine these transformation
  parameters (See 3.2.8)

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Baselines

• The CLCS is not entitled by UNCLOS to issue any
  recommendations with respect to the delineation
  of baselines from which the breadth of the
  territorial sea is measured
• The CLCS may request geodetic information about
  baselines in relation to the test of appurtenance
  and the employment of the 350 M maximum limit
  (See 3.3.1 - 2)

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Limits to be delineated

• The outermost fixed points at each of which the
  thickness of sedimentary rocks is at least 1 per
  cent o the shortest distance from such point to
  the foot of the continental slope
• At a distance of 60 M from the foot of the slope
• At a distance of 350 M from the baselines
• At a distance of 100 M from the 2,500 m
  isobath (See 3.4.1)

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Envelope of arcs

• The CLCS regards the application of the method of
  envelopes of arcs on the surface of the geodetic
  reference ellipsoid in a submission as an
  admissible methodology to determine outer limits
  based on distances from the nearest points
  located on
• baselines
• the 2,500 m isobath, and
• the foot of the continental slope (See 3.4.4)

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Traces paralleles

• The CLCS acknowledges the existence of the method
  of traces paralleles to determine the outer
  limits of maritime spaces from straight, closing
  and archipelagic baselines (See 3.4.6)

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Points to be documented

• The CLCS observes that
• There is no parallelism between the cost and the
  limit
• The outer limit is simpler than the normal
  baseline
• Only a few points contribute to the delineation
  of the outer limit
• Hence, only the most seaward points which
  effectively contribute to the delineation of the
  outer limit need be documented (not the full
  coastline, 2,500 m isobath or the continous foot
  of the slope line) (See 3.4.11)