An underwater volcano, Axial Seamount, located 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is showing signs of an impending eruption, though experts assure it poses no threat to land or seismic stability.
Scientists have indicated that the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano situated over 4,900 feet beneath the Pacific Ocean, may erupt later this year. This volcano, located 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is exhibiting signs of activity for the first time since its last eruption in 2015.
The Axial Seamount is formed by a geological phenomenon known as a hot spot, where molten material from the Earth’s mantle rises into the crust. According to the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, as tectonic plates move over this stationary hot spot, it leads to the formation of long chains of volcanoes.
Maya Tolstoy, a marine geophysicist and dean of the College of the Environment, noted, “Over two-thirds of the Earth’s surface was formed by volcanic eruptions at these mid-ocean ridges. Axial Seamount is a direct result of these fundamental processes that continue to shape our planet today.”
Despite the signs of an impending eruption, experts have reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm. “Axial Seamount is much too deep and far from shore for people on land to even notice when it erupts,” the university’s blog states. Furthermore, they emphasize that an eruption at Axial Seamount is unrelated to seismic activity on land, meaning residents of the Pacific Northwest need not worry about the potential for a major earthquake or tsunami.
The initial indication of an eruption will be a notable increase in seismic activity around the volcano. Deborah Kelley, a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography and director of the Regional Cabled Array, explained, “The volcano has already surpassed the inflation we observed in 2015, but the earthquake activity is still quite low.” Currently, the area is experiencing between 200 to 300 earthquakes per day, with occasional spikes reaching around 1,000 due to tidal effects.
If the patterns observed in 2015 hold true, Kelley anticipates that the number of daily earthquakes could exceed 2,000 for several months leading up to the eruption. These quakes are attributed to magma moving closer to the surface.
William Wilcock, also a professor at the UW School of Oceanography, elaborated on the eruption process, stating, “That period lasts about an hour, and then the magma reaches the surface.” He explained that lava flows will spread across the caldera, with fissures opening up to the north or south, potentially extending as far as 40 kilometers (approximately 25 miles).
Following the eruption, seismic activity is expected to diminish relatively quickly over the next few days, although the eruption itself may continue at a slower pace for about a month.
As scientists continue to monitor the situation, they remain vigilant in studying the Axial Seamount and its potential impact on the underwater landscape, while reassuring the public of their safety.
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