A submarine volcano off the coast of Oregon is on the verge of an eruption. The Axial Seamount, 300 miles from the surface, has been showing signs of increased activity. Since January, it has been inflating like a balloon as molten rock accumulates within. In June, over 2,000 earthquakes were recorded in one day, indicating that seismic activity is rising.
Researchers at Oregon State University are monitoring the volcano’s behavior and have observed a “pretty repeatable pattern” since its last eruption in 2015. The Seamount has erupted three times since 1998, with controlled eruptions that do not threaten human lives or property.
Monitoring instruments on the seafloor provide real-time data, allowing researchers to understand how deep-sea volcanoes work and predict potential eruptions. This information can be used to forecast volcanic eruptions on land that could pose a danger to humans.
The microbes living in the volcano’s caldera are also being monitored. These microorganisms thrive in boiling hot water and play an important role in global biogeochemical cycles, potentially holding clues about the evolution of life on Earth.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/mile-deep-underwater-volcano-off-west-coast-erupt/story?id=124785622