Potential Eruption of Underwater Volcano Near Oregon
Scientists indicate that an underwater volcano off the coast of Oregon may erupt later this year. Known as the Axial Seamount, it’s located over 4,900 feet beneath the Pacific Ocean and approximately 300 miles from the Oregon coastline, and it’s showing signs of potential eruption for the first time since 2015.
The formation of this volcano is attributed to hotspots in the Earth’s mantle, where molten material ascends to the crust. According to a blog post from the University of Washington’s Environmental University in April, as the crust shifts over the mantle, these hotspots create long chains of volcanoes over time.
“More than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface has been shaped by volcanic eruptions along these central ridges,” noted Maya Tolstoy, a geophysicist and dean at the University of Washington. “Axial Seamount is a direct result of these essential processes that continue to shape our planet today.”
Scientists have assured the public that the eruption poses no immediate threat. “Axial Seamount is situated too far from land for anyone onshore to notice an eruption,” they explained. Additionally, the activity at Axial Seamount isn’t related to land-based seismic activity.
The first indication of an impending eruption typically involves a sharp increase in surrounding earthquakes. “We’ve already noted more earthquakes than we observed back in 2015, but overall, the seismic activity remains relatively low,” mentioned Deborah Kelly, a professor at the UW Marine School.
On average, around 200 to 300 earthquakes occur each day, with about 1,000 additional spikes attributed to tidal effects. If past events hold true, an eruption could see this number climb to over 2,000 daily in the months leading up to it.
Earthquake activity is caused by magma moving toward the surface, which adds to the mounting evidence of a potential eruption.
“This phase lasts for about an hour as the magma reaches the surface,” said William Wilcock, a professor at the UW School of Oceanography. “Lava can spread extensively throughout the caldera, sometimes creating cracks that extend up to 25 miles.”
The duration of seismic activity typically decreases quickly in the following days, yet the eruption itself is expected to progress slowly over about a month.
