Scientists have issued a warning that the Axial Seamount, a massive underwater volcano located about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon and submerged nearly 5,000 feet below sea level, is showing strong signs of an imminent eruption.
Though its remote location means it poses no direct threat to humans, experts say an eruption could dramatically reshape the ocean floor, much like previous eruptions in 1998, 2011, and 2015.
Professor William Wilcock, a marine geophysicist at the University of Washington, confirmed that the volcano is once again swelling due to magma buildup beneath its surface.
“Over time, the volcano bulges as magma accumulates underneath. It’s now at the same level of bulging seen before its last three eruptions, suggesting it could erupt any day if our model holds true,” Wilcock explained.
Professor Deborah Kelly of the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography added that the area is experiencing 200 to 300 earthquakes daily, with spikes up to 1,000 tremors per day during tidal shifts.
“If the patterns we saw in 2015 repeat, we could see over 2,000 quakes per day for several months ahead of an eruption,” she noted.
Although there is no direct danger to human populations, scientists are monitoring the volcano closely. Underwater eruptions of this scale are rarely witnessed, making this a unique opportunity to study the inner workings of seafloor volcanoes.
Marine geophysicist Maya Tolstoy emphasized that the volcano is now “under critical pressure,” and even small variations in seawater pressure caused by tides could influence when it erupts.
“Whatever the outcome, this event will teach us something new,” Wilcock concluded.
