Axial Seamount: US West Coast’s Underwater Volcano Shows Signs of Imminent Eruption
Source: University of Washington School of Oceanography
A massive underwater volcano off the coast of Oregon, known as Axial Seamount, is showing signs that it could erupt soon, according to scientists monitoring the region. Located 300 miles west of the Oregon coast, this massive volcano sits 4,626 feet beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. With over 1,000 small earthquakes recorded daily and noticeable seafloor uplift, experts suggest that magma is building beneath the seafloor, increasing the likelihood of an eruption.
Axial Seamount is part of an active volcanic ridge, formed by the movement of tectonic plates. The recent seismic swarm and observed changes in the seafloor’s elevation indicate that the volcano could be preparing to unleash a powerful burst of lava from beneath the ocean’s surface. Volcanologist Bill Chadwick from Oregon State University, who has been studying the volcano, explained, “They tend to inflate like a balloon in between eruptions. At Axial, the sea floor is actually rising, and that’s a big signal.”
Previous Eruptions and Lava Characteristics
Axial Seamount last erupted in 2015, and although its eruptions can be powerful, scientists emphasize that the volcano poses no direct threat to human populations. Its eruptions produce highly fluid lava, similar to the volcanic flows found in Hawaii. When the volcano erupted in 2015, it released a massive volume of molten rock, with one lava flow reaching an impressive thickness of 450 feet—roughly two-thirds the height of Seattle’s Space Needle.
The fluid nature of the lava allows it to spread over wide areas, forming extensive new volcanic structures. These eruptions are typically undersea, with the lava flowing across the ocean floor, making them difficult to observe directly but still significant in terms of geological activity.
No Immediate Threat to Humans or Nearby Fault Zones
While Axial Seamount’s potential eruption could be dramatic, scientists have assured the public that it poses no immediate threat to human populations. The volcano is situated far from coastal cities, and its eruptions primarily affect the ocean floor rather than the air or surrounding land. Additionally, the eruption does not pose any direct danger to the nearby Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is a major tectonic fault line off the coast that has long been a source of concern for earthquake preparedness.
The ongoing seismic activity and the rising seafloor continue to be closely monitored by researchers, who are using the data to better understand the dynamics of underwater volcanoes and their eruption patterns. While the eruption itself may not directly impact human life, the research generated from these events provides valuable insights into volcanic activity beneath the ocean, contributing to the broader field of geology and disaster preparedness.
Axial Seamount remains a focal point for scientific study as its volcanic activity could provide crucial information about the behavior of underwater volcanoes and their potential to reshape the ocean floor.