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Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
An underwater volcano, shaking with 1,000 tiny tremors every day, could erupt soon. Here's what scientists are saying
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel An underwater volcano off the Oregon coast in the US is showing strong signs that it may erupt soon. Known as the Axial Seamount , this submarine shield volcano lies nearly a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean's surface and about 300 miles offshore, along the Juan de Fuca Axial Seamount has erupted several times in the past, with its most recent events taking place in 1998, 2011, and 2015. Scientists now believe it could erupt again before the end of 2025. The seafloor around the volcano has begun to swell, a signal that was also observed before the 2015 eruption. In addition, the area is experiencing a surge in seismic activity , with more than a thousand small earthquakes recorded each day. According to Forbes, these warning signs suggest that 'something big could be brewing under the sea.'Monitoring the Axial Seamount is possible thanks to the Ocean Observatories Initiative's Regional Cabled Array, a high-tech network that provides real-time data, video, and high-resolution imagery. Researchers consider it the most closely observed patch of seafloor in the the volcano may erupt soon, experts say the eruption poses little risk to people on land. Its underwater location means there is no danger of a tsunami or earthquake being the eruption is of great scientific importance. Studying volcanic activity at mid-ocean ridges could improve forecasts for eruptions of land-based volcanoes, which pose much greater risks to human life. Researchers are also interested in how hydrothermal vent ecosystems recover after being buried by lava. This work could provide insights into deep-sea mining and help make such operations more cost-effective in the future.
Sustainability Times
13-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Massive Eruption Imminent': This Giant Underwater Volcano Near Oregon Is About to Explode With Unimaginable Force
IN A NUTSHELL 🌋 The Axial Seamount , an underwater volcano located 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is showing signs of an imminent eruption. , an underwater volcano located 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is showing signs of an imminent eruption. 🔬 Positioned on the Juan de Fuca Ridge , the volcano experiences hundreds of small earthquakes daily, indicating its readiness to erupt. , the volcano experiences hundreds of small earthquakes daily, indicating its readiness to erupt. 📡 The Regional Cabled Array , equipped with cameras and sensors, is set to capture the eruption in real-time, offering valuable insights into undersea volcanic activity. , equipped with cameras and sensors, is set to capture the eruption in real-time, offering valuable insights into undersea volcanic activity. 🌑 Scientists speculate that gravitational forces, such as the moon's pull, might influence the timing of eruptions, linking celestial and terrestrial dynamics. Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, the Axial Seamount is exhibiting signs of unrest that suggest an imminent eruption. Located approximately 300 miles off the Oregon coast, this underwater volcano is a dynamic force of nature that operates largely out of sight and mind. While the West Coast is familiar with the threat of the 'Big One' earthquake, the Axial Seamount's activity poses a different kind of intrigue rather than danger. It erupts frequently, altering the seafloor without causing tsunamis or ash clouds. This time, however, scientists are preparing to capture the event in real-time, providing a rare glimpse into the undersea volcanic world. Understanding Axial Seamount's Volcanic Activity The Axial Seamount is situated on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a tectonic plate boundary where the seafloor is being pulled apart, allowing magma to bubble up and create volcanic activity. The volcano is currently experiencing hundreds of small earthquakes daily, a sign that it is nearing an eruption. According to volcanologist Bill Chadwick, the volcano is at or near the inflation threshold it reached before its last eruption. This readiness to erupt underscores the dynamic nature of the ocean floor, where tectonic movements continuously reshape the Earth's crust. This volcanic activity is not just a geological event but also a biological one. The eruptions at Axial create new habitats by depositing lava and opening hydrothermal vents. These vents spew mineral-rich gases that support unique ecosystems, demonstrating that life can thrive in extreme environments. The interplay between geological and biological processes makes Axial Seamount a fascinating subject for research. 'Newton Would Rise From His Grave': This Stunning 300-Year Upgrade to His Method Just Shattered the Limits of Modern Math and Physics The 2015 Eruption: A Case Study The last major eruption of the Axial Seamount occurred in 2015 and produced around 10,000 earthquakes in just one day. Lava flowed for nearly a month, devastating the seafloor's existing life forms. Yet, remarkably, new organisms quickly colonized the area, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of life. Marine geologist Debbie Kelley emphasizes that volcanoes are likely a significant source of life in our oceans. The 2015 eruption also provided valuable data, helping scientists understand the processes that govern these undersea eruptions and the subsequent ecological recovery. This eruption was not just a geological event; it was a testament to the cyclical nature of life and death under the sea. The rapid recolonization of the seafloor by new life forms illustrates the ocean's ability to recover and adapt to dramatic changes. This cycle of destruction and renewal continues to intrigue scientists and highlights the interconnectedness of Earth's systems. 'China Unveils Game-Changing Aircraft': Travel Around the World in Just 2 Hours With This New 12,000-MPH Plane Harnessing Technology for Real-Time Observation The proximity of the magma chamber to the ocean floor makes Axial Seamount an ideal candidate for observation. The Regional Cabled Array, a network of 660 miles of underwater cables equipped with cameras and sensors, is poised to capture the next eruption as it unfolds. This technological setup offers researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study volcanic activity in real-time, providing insights into the mechanics of undersea eruptions and their ecological impacts. The ability to livestream an eruption is not just a technological feat; it represents a leap forward in our capacity to understand the ocean's hidden processes. By capturing these events as they happen, scientists can gather data that were previously inaccessible, offering a more comprehensive picture of how undersea volcanism affects the ocean environment. 'Aliens Are Sending Signals': This Deep Space Object Blasts X-Rays Every 44 Minutes and NASA Can't Stop It The Role of Celestial Forces Interestingly, the timing of Axial Seamount's eruptions may be influenced by gravitational forces. Past eruptions have coincided with periods when Earth drifts away from the sun, suggesting that the gravitational pull of celestial bodies like the sun and moon might play a role in triggering volcanic activity. This hypothesis highlights the complex interplay between Earth's internal and external forces, reminding us that our planet's behavior is influenced by factors both terrestrial and cosmic. Understanding these connections between celestial forces and geological activity could offer new insights into predicting volcanic eruptions. It also underscores the broader theme that Earth is part of a larger cosmic system, where events on the planetary surface are linked to the movements of celestial bodies. As we await the next eruption of the Axial Seamount, researchers and the public alike anticipate the revelations it will bring. This unique opportunity to witness an undersea volcano in action promises to expand our understanding of Earth's dynamic systems. How will these observations transform our knowledge of the ocean's hidden depths and the forces that shape our planet? The answers may reshape our understanding of Earth's geological and biological processes. Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (23)
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This underwater volcano off Oregon Coast is set to erupt in 2025: What to know
An active underwater volcano in the the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon Coast is predicted to erupt in 2025. The Axial Seamount volcano is located nearly a mile beneath the sea approximately 300 miles off the Oregon Coast, just west of Astoria and along the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The volcanic activity the Axial Seamount has recently displayed has scientists on their toes as it may be due for another eruption soon. The underwater volcano has experienced three eruptions in the last 30 years, the most recent ones happening in 2011 and 2015. According to USA Today, the volcano has 'erupted about 50 times over the last 800 years, about once every 15 years on average.' Here's what to know. Researchers at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center are monitoring the Axial Seamount's activity in real time by using approximately 660 miles of undersea cables. Known as the Regional Cabled Array, it uses more than 140 instruments to constantly monitor activity. Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist and research professor at OSU, said their observations have revealed a pattern. 'It's at or almost at that inflation threshold where it erupted last time. So, we think it's ready to erupt,' Chadwick told KGW earlier this year, adding its activity has picked up in the last year. The pattern Chadwick spoke of shows rises in the seafloor that indicate magma is slowly accumulating and moving beneath the volcano's surface, causing an increased number of small earthquakes. Even if the Axial Seamount volcano erupts this year, there is no danger to people. While it is said the eruption could cause a series of small earthquakes, they aren't likely to be felt on land due to the volcano's depth and how far offshore it is. The lava flows that come from Axial Seamount will have no effect on the surface of the ocean either and will only reshape the seafloor. If the researcher's predictions come true, the underwater volcano will provide a better understanding of how to predict volcanic eruptions. Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@ or on X at @GinnieSandoval. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Underwater volcano off Oregon Coast predicted to erupt in 2025
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Deep-sea volcano off Oregon is rumbling again, likely to erupt anytime soon
Deep below the Pacific, a restless seafloor volcano off Oregon is showing signs it may soon stir again. Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano located nearly a mile beneath the ocean surface, is flexing its geologic muscles. Perched on a hot spot along the Juan de Fuca Ridge, where the Pacific and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart, the volcano is steadily inflating with magma, increasing the frequency of small earthquakes. Researchers with the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative, which operates the Regional Cabled Array at the University of Washington, say the uptick in seismic activity suggests an eruption may be near. 'At the moment, there are a couple hundred earthquakes a day, but that's still a lot less than we saw before the previous eruption,' said William Wilcock, a marine geophysicist at the University of Washington. While predicting the exact timing is tricky, Wilcock said an eruption could occur anytime between later this year and early 2026 — or even tomorrow. 'I would say it was going to erupt sometime later (this year) or early 2026, but it could be tomorrow, because it's completely unpredictable.' The researchers also said that the region could witness thousands of small-scale earthquakes as the volcano erupts underwater. In 2015, 10,000 earthquakes were recorded within 24 hours as magma flowed out of the seafloor volcano for a month, trailing about 25 miles (40 kilometers) underwater. Axial Seamount's magma chamber has collapsed several times over the years, leaving behind a deep, wide basin known as a caldera. Despite the extreme conditions, life flourishes here. Hydrothermal vents scattered across the caldera floor release mineral-rich fluids into the icy seawater, creating plumes teeming with microbes — a phenomenon scientists call 'snowblowers.' While past eruptions have wiped out the tiny creatures clustered around these vents, their return is surprisingly swift. Within just a few months, the ecosystem begins to regenerate. 'I think it's one of the biggest discoveries we've made,' said Kelley, a professor of marine geology and geophysics at the University of Washington, in a statement. 'Life thrives in these inhospitable environments, and volcanoes are probably one of the major sources of life in our oceans.' Marine life, she said, may feel the seismic shifting after the eruption, but the activity could go unnoticed by people on land. 'It's not a very explosive event. You won't see the ash clouds above water, anything like that,' Kelly said. 'It's like if you put a mile of seawater on top of Kilauea … you may see some fountaining, but that's it.' Researchers said that the eruptions are most likely to occur between January and April, as previous events in 1998, 2011, and 2015 took place during this period. Scientists suspect that seasonal gravitational shifts play a role as Earth moves farther from the sun during the early months of the year. The moon's pull on ocean tides causes regular changes in pressure along the seafloor, and when magma is already close to the surface, even minor stress variations can make a difference. High tides, in particular, seem to coincide with more frequent seismic activity near the caldera, possibly pushing the magma chamber past its breaking point. The observatory plans to publicly livestream the event the next time the volcano erupts.
