
A deep-sea volcano hundreds of miles off the Oregon coast is showing signs of an impending eruption, according to scientists who have been studying its behavior for years. The Axial Seamount, considered the most active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific, has followed a cycle of eruptions, and researchers say it is approaching its next one.
This volcano, which erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015, has displayed a repeated pattern of magma buildup and release. Scientists tracking its activity have observed that molten rock is once again accumulating beneath its surface, a process that has historically signaled an approaching eruption.
🚨🇺🇸 SLEEPING GIANT STIRS: MASSIVE UNDERSEA VOLCANO SET TO BLOW OFF U.S. WEST COAST
Scientists warn Oregon's 3,600-foot underwater volcano Axial Seamount is inflating like a balloon, triggering 500+ earthquakes daily as it preps for its next performance.
The good news?
This… pic.twitter.com/ziTNn13kIL
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 31, 2024
William Chadwick, a research associate at Oregon State University, has closely followed Axial Seamount’s activity. “It seems to have this pretty repeatable pattern from one eruption to the next,” he said. Using a network of seafloor sensors and monitoring equipment, researchers receive real-time updates on volcanic activity, making it one of the best-studied submarine volcanoes in the world.
My favorite volcano Axial Seamount is ready to erupt again! Updated forecast blog from Bill Chadwick et al. Looking forward to seeing some fresh lava flows very soon… video from last years expedition w/ @whoi @TAMU #nsffunded #deepsea #volcano #erupt https://t.co/V4oyL4WLnf pic.twitter.com/i2MKoJJB49
— Julie Huber, PhD (@JulesDeep) July 23, 2024
Even if the volcano erupts, scientists say there is no risk to human life or coastal areas. The eruption would occur nearly a mile below the ocean’s surface, making it undetectable from above water. “When Axial Seamount erupts, it’ll look a lot like a Hawaiian lava flow eruption,” said Mike Poland of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Axial Seamount is classified as a shield volcano, meaning it releases slow-moving lava rather than producing explosive eruptions. Researchers studying its activity use the site to refine volcanic forecasting techniques, hoping to improve predictions for more hazardous eruptions on land.
"If you were on a boat above the volcano, you wouldn't know at all that it had erupted."
Scientists are predicting that a mile-deep volcano off the west coast of the U.S. will erupt some time this year — deep enough and far enough away from the coast that it won't threaten human… pic.twitter.com/zY99wTlS1r
— Lt.Annette Nicholson (@Annette65740700) February 2, 2025
An expedition in June 2024 deployed remotely operated vehicles to collect additional data from the site. Scientists hope that ongoing research at Axial Seamount will contribute to a better understanding of how volcanic eruptions can be predicted more accurately in the future.