The Land mass,
continental shelf, and deep ocean floor
Article 76
states that the continental margin consists
of the submerged prolongation of the land mass of the coastal State. The
distinction between those parts of the ocean that are a natural
prolongation of the land mass and those that are part of the deep ocean
floor lies in the tectonic context of the rocks.
Prolongation of the land mass The topographic differences between the land mass and
the deep ocean floor are geological in origin. A morphological
connection with the land mass demonstrates prolongation, but does not by
itself distinguish between submarine elevations and submarine ridges. [link]
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Accretion & Suturing Continents grow by accretion and suturing-the
addition of material along the boundaries where plates move together. [link] | <<back to top
Ridges & submarine elevations Identification of oceanic ridges, submarine
elevations, and submarine ridges, and distinguishing among them may rely
on continuity of morphology, geology and tectonic
history with the land mass. [link] | <<back to top
Volcanic arcs Arc volcanism is one of the most significant processes leading to continental growth. [link] | <<back to top
Article 76
states that the continental margin consists
of the submerged prolongation of the land mass of the coastal State. The
distinction between those parts of the ocean that are a natural
prolongation of the land mass and those that are part of the deep ocean
floor lies in the tectonic context of the rocks.