Continental slope
The edge of the continental shelf, called the shelf break, is marked by an abrupt increase in slope occurring at an average depth of 135 m. The continental slope is the sloping edge of the continent that merges into the deep ocean, or the continental rise where this exists.
Continental rise
The wedge of sediment that may form at the base of the continental slope due to the change in gradient from the steeper slope to the flat abyssal plain.
Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS) The Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations that pro- vides advice and assistance on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and on issues and developments re- lating to research and the legal regime for the oceans. It performs the functions of a secretariat of UNCLOS and services the CLCS.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) The coastal State has sovereign rights over the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the water, the seabed and its subsoil, and over other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone. Jurisdiction is also provided over establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures and over the protection and preservation of the marine environment. The exclusive economic zone is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, which ex- tends to a maximum breadth of 200 M from the baselines.
High Seas The area of seas beyond the exclusive economic zone, the high seas, is not subject to the jurisdiction of any State. In this area, all States can undertake activities such as navigation, overflight, fishing, marine scientific research, construction of artificial islands and laying of cables and pipelines. However, the Convention stipulates that States shall ex- ercise their freedoms on the high seas with due regard for the interests of other States.
Hot spot In geology, a hot spot is a location on the Earth’s surface that has ex- perienced active volcanism for a long period of time. A chain of extinct volcanoes or volcanic islands (and seamounts) can form over millions of years when a tectonic plate moves slowly over a hot spot.
Internal waters Internal waters are those on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea. The coastal State has full sovereignty over its internal waters, much as it does over its land territory.
International Seabed Authority (ISA) International organization established under UNCLOS, through which the States Parties can organise and control activities related to the seabed and subsoil in the Area, particularly the resources of the Area.
Isobath
A line connecting points of equal water depth. Passive continental margin
The edges of the continents – the continental margins can be classi- fied according to their tectonic setting. Those located at the edges of diverging plates are called passive margins, because they do not gen- erally experience earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. They are sink- ing areas where thick sequences of sediments accumulate. Passive margins occur around Australia, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, in Europe, Africa, and North and South America.
Ring of Fire The volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches that partly encircle the Pacific Ocean form the so-called “Ring of Fire.” This zone, which is notorious for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, is a direct result of plate tectonics and the movement and collisions of tectonic plates.
Scientific and Technical Guidelines (STG)
The STG of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf were issued on 13 May 1999. The guidelines were produced to assist coastal States planning to submit data and other material on the outer limits of the continental shelf. They describe the geodetic, geological, bathymetric, geophysical and other methodologies stipulated in Arti- cle 76 for the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf.
Territorial Sea
The territorial sea is measured from the baseline. The maximum breadth of the territorial sea allowed under international law is 12 M. The coastal State enjoys sovereignty and jurisdiction over the territorial sea but must allow the right of innocent passage for for- eign vessels. However, research activities require the consent of the coastal State.
The Last Maritime Zone 27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36