
A massive underwater volcano located about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon is showing signs that it may erupt within the year, according to scientists who have been tracking its activity for decades.
The Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific, has a well-documented history of eruptions, with previous events recorded in 1998, 2011, and 2015. Researchers monitoring the site have observed patterns indicating that another eruption is likely in 2025. The volcano is currently inflating due to the buildup of molten rock, a process that has preceded past eruptions.
🚨🇺🇸 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, explained that the volcano’s eruption cycle has been remarkably consistent. “It seems to have this pretty repeatable pattern from one eruption to the next,” he said. Scientists have been able to monitor this process using instruments installed on the seafloor, which provide real-time data through an underwater network connected to the shore.
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
Despite its expected eruption, experts emphasize that the event will not pose any risk to human life. The volcano is located deep enough beneath the ocean surface that even a significant eruption would not generate noticeable disturbances above water. “If you were on a boat above the volcano, you wouldn’t know at all that it had erupted,” said Scott Nooner, a professor of geophysics at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
The Axial Seamount is a shield volcano, similar in structure to Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, meaning its eruptions typically produce lava flows rather than explosive events. The site is considered one of the most closely studied underwater volcanoes, with researchers using it as a test ground for forecasting future eruptions.
"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
Scientists believe the continued study of Axial Seamount could help refine eruption predictions for more hazardous volcanoes. Because the site is far from human populations, researchers can issue forecasts and test prediction models without causing public alarm, a key challenge for land-based volcanoes.