baselinjerne

Baselinjerne is a term used in several fields to denote reference lines from which measurements, boundaries, or comparisons are made. In general, a baseline serves as a starting point or reference against which other positions, distances, or changes are gauged. The plural form baselinjerne is common in Danish and Norwegian, where it refers to multiple baseline lines within a given context.

In cartography and international law, baselines are most often associated with coastal and maritime boundaries. A baseline can be a normal baseline, defined by the low-water line along the coast, from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. In addition, straight baselines may be drawn between specific points, such as promontories or islets, under certain conditions. Archipelagic states may establish archipelagic baselines to delimit the extent of their waters. International rules, notably those under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), govern how baselines may be drawn and what features can be used to connect baseline points. Baselines are central to determining territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and other maritime zones, and they can be a source of dispute when coastlines change or when states interpret the rules differently.

Beyond maritime contexts, baselines are used in statistics, science, and data analysis as reference points for experiments, measurements, or model evaluation. A baseline observation or model provides a comparison against which new results are assessed. In sports and design, baseline lines can also denote standard reference positions or margins.

Overall, baselinjerne represents the concept of fixed reference lines that anchor measurements, boundaries, or comparisons across disciplines.