Scientists predict that the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano located 300 miles off the Oregon coast, may erupt later this year, but it poses no threat to land or seismic stability.
The Axial Seamount, situated more than 4,900 feet beneath the Pacific Ocean and approximately 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is exhibiting signs that it may erupt for the first time since 2015. According to experts, this underwater volcano is formed by a geological hot spot, an area in the Earth’s mantle where molten material rises into the crust. This process has resulted in the formation of long chains of volcanoes over time, as the crust moves over the stationary hot spot.
“Over two-thirds of the Earth’s surface was formed by volcanic eruptions at these mid-ocean ridges,” said Maya Tolstoy, a marine geophysicist and dean of the University of Washington’s College of the Environment. “Axial Seamount is a direct result of these fundamental processes that continue to shape our planet today.”
Despite the potential for an eruption, scientists assert that it poses no danger to people on land. “Axial Seamount is much too deep and far from shore for people on land to even notice when it erupts,” the university’s blog post explains. “An eruption at Axial Seamount also has nothing to do with seismic activity on land, so Pacific Northwesterners don’t need to worry about this event triggering a major earthquake or tsunami.”
The initial indication of an impending eruption will be a notable increase in the number of earthquakes occurring around the volcano. Deborah Kelley, a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography and director of the Regional Cabled Array, noted that the volcano has already surpassed the inflation levels observed in 2015. However, current earthquake activity remains relatively low.
<p”We’re seeing 200 to 300 earthquakes per day, with some spikes around 1,000 per day due to the tides,” Kelley explained. “If what we learned in 2015 is correct, I would expect to see more than 2,000 per day for a few months before the eruption.”
The earthquakes are caused by magma moving toward the surface. William Wilcock, also a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography, elaborated on the eruption process. “That period lasts about an hour, and then the magma reaches the surface,” he said. “Lava flows spread across the caldera, and lava-filled fissures open up to the north or the south, reaching as far as 40 kilometers (about 25 miles).”
Wilcock added that while seismic activity tends to decrease quickly in the days following an eruption, the volcanic activity itself may continue slowly for about a month.
As scientists continue to monitor the Axial Seamount, they emphasize the importance of understanding these underwater geological processes. The research not only sheds light on the dynamics of volcanic activity but also contributes to broader knowledge about the Earth’s geological history.
According to the University of Washington, the Axial Seamount serves as a vital site for studying the interactions between tectonic activity and oceanic processes, providing insights that are crucial for both scientific understanding and public safety.