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<br /> <br />44 <br /> <br /> <br />A Hawaiian lava fountain <br />surges 600 meters (1,900 feet), <br />the highest ever recorded, <br />during the Kilauea lki eruption <br />in 1959. The nearby Hawaiian <br />Volcano Observatory provides <br />timely wamings of anticipated <br />volcanic activity and strives to <br />refine volcano monitoring and <br />forecasting techniques of <br />benefit throughout the UJorld. <br /> <br />~ <br />() <br />" <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />z <br />o <br />~ <br />z <br /> <br />~ assessment of the potential hazards of these <br />volcanoes through study of their deposits and <br />history of past eruptions; <br />. quantitative assessment of the intensity (mass <br />eruption rate) and magnitude (total eruptive <br />mass) of all historic eruptions as a step toward <br />establishment of a global view of volcanic energy <br />release; <br />~ baseline geophysical and geochemical <br />monitoring of volcanoes, particularly in densely <br />populated areas, to provide early warning of <br />eruptions and to signal when activity has ceased; <br />~ training and education programs for spe- <br />cialists in all volcanically active countries; <br />. formation of expert international volcano <br />crisis assistance teams to respond to developing <br />volcano emergencies; <br />. development of coordinated emergency warn- <br />ing, evacuation, and response methods and tech- <br />niques; and <br />~ study of the environmental impacts of vol- <br />canic eruptions on the earth's atmosphere and on <br />world climate. <br /> <br />WILDFIRES <br /> <br />Wildfires are uncontrolled conflagrations that <br />spread freely through the environmenr. They may <br />be initiated by natural causes or human acts. <br />Lightning causes many wildfires; others are <br />caused by sparks from campfires, arson, and even <br />earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Some wild- <br />fires rage in wooded areas, some in brush, and <br />some sweep through cities. <br />In wild areas, timber and forage may be <br />destroyed, animal habitat disrupted, soil nutrients <br />depleted, and scenic value diminished in the wake <br />of wildfire. Rapid runoff from a burned-over area <br />can also contribute to flooding, while erosion of <br />exposed soil can trigger landslides. As human <br />populations conrinue to encroach on areas of <br />abundant natural fuels, wildfires increasingly <br />include significant human tolls. Fires at the <br />wildland/urban interface can quickly decimate <br />suburban, resort, and farming communities, lead- <br />ing to great loss of life and destruction of a <br />community's economic base. <br />Several recent examples demonstrate the de- <br />structive potential of wildfire. In May 1987, one of <br />the largest wildfires on record occurred in China. <br />This fire burned 10,000 square kilometers, killed <br /> <br />