Scientists say an undersea volcano, 300 miles west of Newport, may erupt in the next 4-6 months. Volcanologist Bill Chadwick from Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center expects this eruption to be harmless to humans due to its small earthquakes and cooled lava.
Chadwick has been studying the Axial Seamount for years and is using National Science Foundation grants to collect samples from the seafloor. He predicts the eruption will help geologists better understand predicting eruptions, both underwater and on land.
The Axial Seamount has erupted three times in the past 25 years, with each subsequent eruption seeming predictable. Scientists want to determine if these eruptions can be forecasted and translated to more active surface volcanos near populated areas.
Chadwick emphasizes that an Axial Seamount eruption would not affect humans or ships at sea, as the associated earthquakes are small (0-2 magnitude) and the lava is quickly cooled by the ocean. He invites scientists to learn from each other and apply lessons to predict eruptions more accurately.
Source: https://lincolnchronicle.org/undersea-volcano-300-miles-of-the-oregon-coast-could-erupt-this-year-but-dont-worry-theres-no-danger