. The role of science in applying Article 76 UNCLOS to the Arctic

Abstract
Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines the legal process for delineation of the "continental shelf" of a coastal state. Under the specified geological conditions and subject to various limits, this"continental shelf" can extend the coastal state's territorial rights to the seabed and subsoil of submarine areas beyond the 200 M Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The process of establishing legal recognition of the boundaries of these territorial rights involves data collection, analysis, and interpretation leading to the development of a formal submission of evidence for evaluation by the United Nations' Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). The CLCS is made up of scientists who have been nominated by states parties to UNCLOS. After consideration of the evidence provided, the CLCS issues final and binding recommendations on the limits of the coastal states' entitlement under Article 76. In the Arctic, the five coastal states (Russia, Canada, Denmark (Greenland), United States, and Norway) all have the apparent potential for delineation of continental shelf beyond their 200 M EEZs. The work of the "A5" UNCLOS programs as led to extensive bathymetric and geophysical data acquisition and analysis, including some significant collaborative efforts. While the full process of Article 76 delineation includes significant legal and scientific intricacy, it is possible to broadly simplify the scientific portion of this effort in the Arctic into three general topics: (1) identification of the base of the slope (BOS); (2) seismic mapping of the thickness of sedimentary rocks above basement for the region seaward of the BOS; and (3) development of a broad geologic and tectonic understanding of the region within a States' BOS. [There are three additional elements that are less scientific and more geodetic in nature: (1) creation of discrete foot of slope (FOS) points at the point of maximum change in gradient within the BOS; (2) mapping of the 2500 m isobaths adjacent to the coastal state; and (3) establishment of a 350 M baseline from coastal geodetic basepoints].