TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 13021 

________________________________________________________________________ 

ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION 

GLOBE Program 

 Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and LATVIA 

Signed at Riga January 27, 1999 

 with 

Appendices 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

 evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
 LATVIA 

Environmental Cooperation: GLOBE Program 

Agreement signed at Riga January 27, 1999; 

Entered into force January 27, 1999. 

With appendices. 
Agreement between

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

of the United States of America and

the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia

for Cooperation in

the GLOBE program

Preamble

The United States of America National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, acting on behalf of itself and other United States of

America Government agencies participating in the GLOBE Program

(hereinafter, the United States side) and the Ministry of Education and

Science of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter, the Latvian side),

Intending to increase the awareness of students throughout the world about

the global environment,

Seeking to contribute to increased scientific understanding of the Earth,

and

Desiring to support improved student achievement in science and

mathematics,

Have agreed to cooperate in the Global Learning and Observations to

Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program as follows:

Article 1 - THE GLOBE PROGRAM

The GLOBE Program is an international environmental science and

education program that brings students, teachers, and scientists together to

study the global environment. GLOBE has created an international

network of students at primary, middle and secondary school levels

studying environmental issues, making environmental measurements, and

sharing useful environmental data with one another and the international

science community.
- 2 - Article 2 - RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

A. The United States side will:

1.Identify United States schools that will participate in the GLOBE

Program (details regarding GLOBE schools in Appendix A);

2. Select, in consultation with international scientists and educators,

the GLOBE environmental measurements and types of measurements

equipment (described in Appendix B );

3. Select Principal Investigator Teams for the GLOBE

environmental measurements, and support the United States members of

the Team;

4. Develop, in consultation with international scientists and

educators, GLOBE educational materials;

5. Translate GLOBE instructional materials related to measurements

procedures and data reporting protocols into the six United Nations

languages, and provide a copy of these plus all broader GLOBE

educational materials to the Latvian side for further reproduction as

necessary;

6. Conduct regional training sessions for GLOBE Country

Coordinators and GLOBE teachers who will serve as trainers for

additional GLOBE teachers in Latvia;

7. Design, develop, operate, and maintain GLOBE data processing

capabilities and other computers (to the extent possible, textual material

appearing on computer screens will be accessible in the student's choice

among six United Nations languages);

8.Accept environmental data reported from GLOBE schools around

the world, and develop and provide resultant global environmental images

to the Latvian side; and

9. Evaluate the overall GLOBE Program periodically, in

consultation with international GLOBE Country Coordinators, and modify

the overall program as appropriate.
- 3 - B. The Latvian side will:

1. Identify Latvian schools that will participate in the GLOBE

Program (details regarding GLOBE schools in Appendix A) and provide

an updated list of Latvian GLOBE schools to the United States side at the

beginning of each school year;

2. Ensure that Latvian GLOBE students conduct the fundamental

activities of GLOBE schools detailed in Appendix A (take GLOBE

environmental measurements, report data, and receive and use resultant

global environmental images, using GLOBE educational materials under

the guidance of teachers trained to conduct the GLOBE program);

3. Name a Point of Contact from the Latvian Ministry of Education

and Science responsible for policy-level communications with the Director

of the GLOBE Program;

4. Name a Country Coordinator responsible for day-to-day

management, oversight, and facilitation of the GLOBE Program in Latvia;

5. Ensure that the Country Coordinator and some GLOBE teachers

attend GLOBE regional training and in turn provide GLOBE training to at

least one teacher in each Latvian GLOBE school;

6. Ensure that GLOBE instructional materials related to

measurement procedures and data reporting protocols are utilized in

Latvian GLOBE schools, and that broader GLOBE educational materials

are appropriately translated, adapted, reproduced, and distributed to all

Latvian GLOBE schools;

7. Ensure that the measurement equipment used by GLOBE schools

to take GLOBE environmental measurements meets GLOBE

specifications (described in Appendix B);

8. Ensure that teachers and students at Latvian GLOBE schools

calibrate GLOBE measurement equipment according to procedures

provided in GLOBE instructional materials;
9. Ensure that Latvian GLOBE schools have the necessary computer

and communications systems to allow Internet/World Wide Web access in

order to report GLOBE environmental images; if such computer and

communications systems are not available in Latvian schools, make agreed

alternative arrangements for such reporting and receipt (at a minimum, the

Latvian Country Coordinator will need access to the Internet so that all

measurement data from Latvian GLOBE schools will be reported via

Internet); and

10. Evaluate GLOBE operations in Latvia periodically and assist the

United States side in conducting periodic evaluation of the overall GLOBE

Program.

Article 3- FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Each side will bear the costs of fulfilling its respective responsibilities

under this agreement. Obligations of each side pursuant to this agreement

are subject to its respective funding procedures and the availability of

appropriated funds, personnel, and other resources. The conduct of

activities under this agreement will be consistent with the relevant Jaws

and regulations of the United States and Latvia.

Article 4 - EXCHANGE OF DATA AND GOODS

GLOBE environmental measurement data, global environmental images,

software, and educational materials will be available worldwide without

restriction as to their use or redistribution.

Article 5 - RELEASE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE GLOBE

PROGRAM

Each side may release information on the GLOBE Program as it may deem

appropriate without prior consultation with the other.

Article 6 - CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION

Each side will use its best efforts to facilitate the movement of persons and

goods into and out of its territory and to accord entry to such goods into

United States and Latvian territory free of customs duties and other similar
- 5 -

charges, as is necessary to implement this agreement, to the extent

permitted by the laws and regulations of the United States and Latvia.

Article 7 - DURATION

This agreement will enter into force upon signature of the two sides and

will remain in force five years. It will be automatically extended for further

five-year periods unless either side decides to terminate it and so notifies

the other side with three months written notice. This agreement may be

terminated at any time by either side upon three months prior written

notice to the other side. This agreement may be amended by written

agreement of the two sides.

Done at Riga, in duplicate, this twenty seventh day of January, 1999, in

English and Latvian languages, each text being equally authentic.

For the National Oceanic For the Ministry of

 and Atmospheric Administration of Education and Science of

the United States of America the Republic of Latvia
APPENDIX A

GLOBE Schools

Each partner country is responsible for identifying its participating

schools. Schools should be selected so as to satisfy the objectives of

the GLOBE Program. In particular, countries should emphasize the

selection of schools that will maximize the number and geographic

distribution of students worldwide participating in the program. Also

countries should consider involving schools in locations that will yield

measurement data that is important to the international science

community.

Students at all GLOBE schools throughout the world conduct the

following fundamental activities: they make environmental

measurements at or near their schools; report their data to a GLOBE

data processing site; receive vivid graphical global environmental

images created from their data and the data from other GLOBE

schools around the world; and study the environment by relating

their observations and the resulting images to broader environmental

topics. All of these activities are conducted under the guidance of

specially trained teachers (GLOBE-trained teachers).

GLOBE educational materials are used in GLOBE schools under the

guidance of GLOBE-trained teachers. These materials contain

instructional materials detailing procedures for taking environmental

measurements and protocols for reporting data; they also explain the

significance of the measurements, guide the use of the global

environmental images, and integrate the measurement aspects of the

program into a broader study of the environment.

APPENDIX B

GLOBE Environmental Measurements and Equipment

GLOBE environmental measurements contribute in a significant way

to the scientific understanding of the dynamics of the global

environment. Every GLOBE school is encouraged to conduct the

core set of GLOBE environmental measurements in the following
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critical areas: Atmosphere/Climate, Hydrology, Land Cover/Biology

and Soils. As the GLOBE Program evolves, specialized

measurements not common to all GLOBE schools may be added in

order to address local environmental issues.

Students at all skill levels are active participants in the GLOBE

Program. The actual participation is designed so as to be appropriate

for primary, middle and secondary school levels. Younger students

make limited measurements which may be qualitative rather than

quantitative. Older students make additional measurements and

more sophisticated measurements, as appropriate for their skill level.

Measurement equipment is not standardized; rather, functional and

performance specifications are provided for GLOBE instruments.

Following is the list of GLOBE core measurements and equipment.

This list has been developed and will be periodically updated as

provided in Article 2.A.2, based on experience gained in

implementing the GLOBE Program.

MEASUREMENTS	EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Atmosphere/Climate:

Air temperature	 Max/Min Thermometer

Calibration Thermometer

Instrument Shelter

Precipitation

Cloud Cover/Type

Hydrology:

Water pH

Water Temperature

Rain Gauge

Cloud Charts

pH Paper, Pen, or Meter

Organic Liquid-Filled

Thermometer

Dissolved Oxygen	Dissolved Oxygen Kit
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Alkalinity Water Alkalinity Kit

Electrical Conductivity Electrode-Type

Conductivity Tester

Land Cover/Biology:

Land Cover Remote Sensing Image

Multispec Software

Species Identification Dichotomous Keys

Biometry

Soil Characterization

Measuring Tape

Clinometer (Optional)

Densiometer (Optional)

Soil Sample Cans

Augur

Soil Moisture Meter

(Optional)

Gypsum Blocks (Optional)

Color Chart

Graduated Cylinders

Augur (Optional)

Soils:

Soil Moisture

APPENDIX C

GLOBE Computer and Communications Systems

In order to derive maximum benefit from the GLOBE Program, all

schools are encouraged to use the Internet, along with classroom

computers. The Internet/World Wide Web multi-media informationaccess capability has been selected to support the required GLOBE
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school activities of data entry, data analysis, and use of global

environmental images.

The diversity of technology accessible by schools worldwide may

require, in some cases, that environmental measurements be

reported via e-mail or in hardcopy and that a variety of media,

including e-mail hardcopy, be used to distribute global environmental

images. All schools that want to participate in the program will be

accommodated.

Technology associated with the GLOBE Program will continually

evolve to higher levels and participants will be encouraged to

upgrade over time.