Deep beneath the Pacific, a sleeping giant stirs with ominous force.
Located 300 miles off Oregon's coast, the Axial Seamount, a vast underwater volcano, is displaying alarming signs of an imminent eruption, with researchers predicting a potential event as early as tomorrow or later in 2025, while assuring the public it poses no danger to West Coast communities, Daily Mail reported.
Positioned more than 4,900 feet below the ocean surface, Axial Seamount spans a mile in width.
This undersea volcano lies along the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a volcanic chain stretching between Oregon and Alaska.
As a young shield volcano, it features a broad, low-profile shape distinct from steeper volcanic structures. Scientists from the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative have been tracking its every move.
In recent weeks, seismic activity beneath the seamount has surged dramatically, driven by magma pressing upward.
A notable spike in earthquakes occurred on April 13, 2025, followed by a steady rise in daily tremors since May 6. Experts anticipate that during the eruption, daily quakes could escalate from hundreds to as many as 10,000 within 24 hours as molten rock escapes.
Volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University, William Chadwick, has noted the volcano's behavior patterns. They tend to inflate like a balloon in between eruptions. At Axial, the seafloor is rising, and that's a big signal.
The last major event in 2015 unleashed about 8,000 earthquakes, created lava flows 450 feet thick, and caused the ocean floor to drop nearly eight feet.
Past eruptions in 1998, 2011, and 2015, along with likely undocumented earlier events, offer valuable data for researchers.
By November 2024, the volcano's surface had swollen to a height similar to its pre-2015 state, a key indicator used to predict that eruption. Current data suggests another eruption is likely before the end of 2025, though some estimates point to early 2026.
Seismic readings show hundreds of daily earthquakes, with swarms exceeding 500 per day around the underwater peak. When it erupts, the volcano could release over a billion cubic feet of fluid lava, weighing millions of tons, with flows potentially as high as Seattle's iconic Space Needle.
Despite this immense power, the event will remain unnoticed by coastal residents due to its depth and distance from land, with no impact on terrestrial seismic activity.
Scientist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, Mike Poland, emphasized the unique nature of this monitoring opportunity. This particular volcano is probably the best-monitored submarine volcano in the world. It's fascinating and doesn't pose a hazard.
The University of Washington's College of the Environment operates one of the largest underwater observatories, equipped with sensors across the seafloor and ocean waters.
Researchers plan to use cutting-edge tools to document the eruption comprehensively, capturing data and imagery from start to finish. Known as one of the most closely watched submarine volcanoes globally, Axial Seamount provides a rare chance to refine predictive models.
Studying this event could enhance forecasting for more dangerous volcanoes, offering insights without risking public safety.
Professor of geophysics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Scott Nooner, highlighted the difficulties in eruption prediction.
It's much harder than forecasting the weather, even though the weather is a very difficult thing to forecast already. There's still so much that we don't understand about what triggers eruptions and how magma moves around underneath the Earth's surface.
His team shared these observations at the American Geophysical Union conference in December 2024, underscoring the ongoing challenges in volcanic science.
Deep off Oregon's coast, Axial Seamount's swelling seafloor and escalating earthquakes signal an eruption that could happen soon or within the year. While the event promises to release millions of tons of lava, its remote location ensures no threat to nearby communities.
Through advanced monitoring, scientists aim to unlock new understanding, potentially aiding predictions for more perilous volcanic sites worldwide.
