A submarine volcano located around 300 miles off the coast of Oregon may erupt for the first time since 2015, potentially sending “very fluid lava” into the ocean. Recent observations noted over 1,000 earthquakes occurring daily in the region.
Scientists are noticing increased volcanic activity at Axial Seamount, which is marked by swelling underwater in the Pacific Ocean. Some measurements have shown significant lifting of the seabed, a concerning indicator, according to a volcanologist from Oregon State University, Bill Chadwick.
“This volcano acts much like a Hawaiian volcano, known for its fluid lava flows,” Chadwick explained. “During eruptions, they expand like balloons.” He noted that the seabed in this area is rising, which is another major sign of impending activity.
In 2015, Axial Seamount had a noteworthy eruption that released an incredible amount of magma, with one lava flow reaching thicknesses of 450 feet.
Chadwick added that this thickness is comparable to about two-thirds the height of the Seattle Space Needle. It’s a substantial lava volume, but he reassures that the volcano poses no danger to humans.
Interestingly, the sailors present above the eruption point, at an elevation of 4,626 feet, are in the water below, which may mask the eruption’s signs. Chadwick mentioned that you could be nearby on a boat and likely not even notice it.
The volcano is situated between two tectonic plates, which contributes to the pressure building on the seabed, driving volcanic activity. In the last 30 years, Axial Seamount has erupted three times, notably in 1998, 2011, and 2015.
Submarine volcanoes are just one aspect of the seismic risks that those living on the West Coast should consider. Recent studies indicate that if the Cascadia subduction zone, a fault line approximately 100 miles from the North American coast, were to be struck by a major earthquake, vast stretches of the Pacific Northwest coastline could sink into the ocean, potentially by more than six feet.
However, it seems the Cascadia subduction zone is quite a distance from this submerged volcano, which minimizes concerns about simultaneous seismic events, as reported recently.
