Scientists are closely monitoring the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano located 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, as it shows signs of an imminent eruption in 2025. The volcano, situated more than 4,900 feet below the Pacific Ocean's surface, last erupted in 2015.
Researchers, including Oregon State University geophysicist William Chadwick, noted that the seafloor had inflated to levels similar to those preceding the 2015 event. This inflation, along with increased seismic activity, suggests magma is building beneath the surface, potentially leading to an eruption before the end of 2025, according to a blog kept by Bill Chadwick.
While the eruption poses no direct threat to human communities due to its depth and distance from shore, it presents a valuable research opportunity. Scientists plan to use advanced underwater observatories to monitor the eruption, gathering data and images to enhance understanding of underwater volcanoes and improve forecasting capabilities for more dangerous undersea volcanoes.