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Science 13 April 1979:
Vol. 204. no. 4389, pp. 135 - 144
DOI: 10.1126/science.204.4389.135
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Articles

Ocean Floor Boundaries

Hollis D. Hedberg 1

1 Professor emeritus of geology at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540

The base of the continental slope, combined with the concepts of a boudary zone, a technical advisory boundary commission, and special treatment for restricted seas, offers a readily attainable, natural, practicable, and equitable boundary between national and international jurisdiction over the ocean floor. There is no point in bringing into the boundary formula the unnecessary added complication of thickness of sediments, as recently proposed. Review of the U.S. offshore brings out the critical importance with respect to energy resources of proper choice of boundary principles and proper determination of the base-of-continent line about our shores. The advice of the pertinent science and technology community should urgently be sought and contributed to decisions on offshore boundaries.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Drawing a line in the sand: identifying and characterizing boundaries in the geological record.
A. B. Beaudoin and M. J. Head (2004)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 230, 1-10
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