A mile-deep underwater volcano, located about 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, is predicted to erupt this year. The Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano, has been monitored for three decades and has erupted three times before. Scientists believe it will erupt again due to its “repeatable pattern” from previous eruptions.
Researchers have observed that the volcano has been inflating like a balloon as molten rock accumulates within. This inflation stage is similar to one experienced before the last eruption in 2015, leading scientists to predict an imminent eruption this year.
The seamount can be monitored using instruments and cables that extend from the coast, providing real-time data on earthquakes occurring near the volcano. Although the eruptions are deep enough not to threaten human lives, accurate predictions could help researchers forecast volcanic eruptions more accurately.
This “natural laboratory” is safer for predicting eruptions than doing so on land, where false alarms can cause panic and evacuations. By continuing to monitor the Axial Seamount, scientists aim to gain invaluable data to predict volcanic eruptions further out.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/mile-long-underwater-volcano-erupt-off-west-coast/story?id=118217346