Underwater volcano may erupt off Oregon coast this year

In recent months, scientists have observed increased activity at the Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano located over 4,900 feet beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 300 miles off the Oregon coast. The University of Washington's College of the Environment reported that this volcano might erupt soon, marking its first eruption since 2015. Significantly, while there is a potential for eruption, experts affirm there is no imminent threat to the public or land-based communities. The volcanic activity is contained deep in the ocean, and the eruption would not affect anywhere onshore. The volcano is formed by a geological hot spot, where molten material pushes through the Earth’s crust. As tectonic plates shift, this persistent hot spot contributes to the development of various underwater volcanoes over time. Such eruptions are commonplace at mid-ocean ridges—a major contributor to the Earth's surface formation. Maya Tolstoy, a marine geophysicist at the university, emphasized that these volcanic processes are crucial in shaping the planet. For the Axial Seamount, an increase in seismic activity, particularly earthquakes, can signify an impending eruption. Current observations indicate that the seismic activity has increased since the last eruption, with daily reports of 200 to 300 earthquakes; fluctuations in numbers can reach spikes around 1,000 due to tidal effects. Deborah Kelley, a professor and director of the Regional Cabled Array, noted that if previous patterns hold, scientists expect the number of daily earthquakes to exceed 2,000 for a period leading up to the eruption. This increase in seismicity is primarily linked to magma rising towards the surface. The process leading to an eruption lasts about an hour, culminating in lava flows spreading across the caldera of the volcano. As eruptions progress, they may open fissures extending as far as 40 kilometers (around 25 miles). Although seismic activity typically subsides shortly after the eruption begins, the volcanic activity itself can last for about a month. Importantly, researchers stress that there is a clear distinction between seismic events at the Axial Seamount and those that may occur on land. Thus, Northwestern residents need not worry about potential earthquakes or tsunamis resulting from the underwater volcanic activity.