Axial Seamount, located 300 miles from the US coast in the Pacific Ocean, is experiencing increased swelling due to volcanic activity. Since 1997, scientists have monitored the volcano using pressure sensors and AI-driven analysis, which has revealed a pattern of eruptions after reaching a particular level of inflation.
Experts note that Axial’s unique location on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, an underwater mountain range, allows for molten rock to rise up and shape new crust. This process creates a chain of peaks called a mid-ocean ridge, where plates moving apart have built one of Earth’s largest continuous geological features.
Researchers are using advanced tools to track shifts in earthquake patterns and gauge magma movement before an eruption. A recent study analyzing quake patterns prior to 2015 leverages machine learning to recognize signals that precede an eruption.
The study’s findings could aid efforts to forecast other, more hazardous sites, such as the 2022 Hunga Tonga event, which triggered a tsunami with estimated losses of $90 billion. Axial Seamount’s repeated eruptions provide a unique opportunity for scientists to refine predictive science and gather detailed data on submarine eruptions.
While the undersea location of Axial poses minimal risk to nearby shorelines, experts still track everything that happens beneath the waves, as the same methods could help governments plan evacuations or safeguard critical infrastructure. The anticipation of Axial’s next eruption has galvanized experts in volcanic forecasting, making it a key test bed for learning about submarine eruptions.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/axial-seamount-large-underwater-volcano-off-us-coast-will-likely-erupt-in-2025