Scientists at the University of Washington are closely monitoring Axial Seamount, a large submarine volcano off the Oregon coast, as it exhibits signs of a possible eruption in 2025. Located in a geologically active zone, the volcano has been experiencing increased seismic activity.
The Ocean Observatories Initiative Regional Cabled Array has recorded a surge in earthquake frequency, suggesting a potential eruption in the coming months. William Wilcock, a marine geophysicist at the University of Washington, notes that the seafloor has inflated by more than 20 cm in recent months, twice the rate observed before previous eruptions.
Axial Seamount, the most active submarine volcano in the Northeast Pacific, has had eruptions in 1998, 2011, and 2015. The volcano is under continuous observation through the Ocean Observatories Initiative's Regional Cabled Array, which includes 20 seafloor instruments collecting real-time data on seismic activity, seafloor deformation, and ocean conditions.