Delineation
of Outer Limits of Continental Shelf
According
to the provisions of UNCLOS, the coastal State that intends to delineate the
outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, is required to submit particulars of such limits along
with the supporting scientific and technical data. The claims are required to be
submitted by May 2009 and would be examined by the Commission on the Limits of
Continental Shelf (CLCS). If the claims are accepted by CLCS India would be in a
position to claim substantial area beyond the EEZ.
The
States submitting claims are required to determine the (a) baselines (b) foot of
the continental slope and 2500 metre isobath, and (c) thickness of sedimentary
rocks to establish the outer limits of the continental shelf. Accordingly,
a comprehensive desktop study was undertaken considering the data sources
available to determine the scope of the project, the type of data to be
collected, the scientific and technical issues involved and the development of a
data acquisition programme in concert with the
objectives of other programmes viz. Gas Hydrates Programme. Upon
identification of the requirement, a data acquisition programme was taken up and various sub-components of the
programme viz. parameters of data acquisition, data
quality protocol, cruise schedules, area of operation etc., were finalised. The
data acquisition of various geophysical parameters commenced during the year and
is progressing with simultaneous data processing.
National
Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) at
Objectives
of the program are:
n Determination of
the total sediment thickness below the seabed along a series of transects normal
to the foot of the slope and spaced less than 60 nautical miles apart, through
seismic reflection, refraction, gravity and magnetic
methods
n Determination of
the nature and type of the basement above which the sediments have been
deposited through modeling of the MCS and refraction
data