Latest news with #AxialSeamount
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)
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientists warn massive underwater volcano is 'ready' to ERUPT... and will release millions of tons of lava
An underwater volcano off the West Coast is predicted to erupt at any moment, and the world can watch it happen live. Axial Seamount, located roughly 300 miles off Oregon 's coast on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, is the most active volcano in the Pacific Northwest. Scientists monitoring the underwater beast recently set up a camera near its peak, allowing the public to tune in the moment it explodes. The livestream runs daily at 2:00, 5:00, 8:00, and 11:00 ET and PT in 14-minute segments on the Interactive Oceans website. 'The HD video focuses on the 14-foot tall actively venting hot spring deposit called 'Mushroom' located within the ASHES vent field on Axial Seamount, located on the western side of the volcano,' the Ocean Observations Initiative said in a statement. The vent sits atop an ancient lava flow, where radiating cracks are lined with white bacterial mats and small tube worms, which are clear signs of warm fluids slowly seeping through fractures in the basalt. Its last eruption, in 2015, was a massive event that triggered roughly 8,000 earthquakes, unleashed lava flows hundreds of feet thick, and caused the seafloor to suddenly collapse by nearly eight feet. Volcanologist Bill Chadwick told KGW: 'It's at or almost at that inflation threshold where it erupted last time. So, we think it's ready. ' The volcano sits more than 4,900 feet below the Pacific Ocean's surface and is showing intense signs of an impending eruption as pressure steadily increases beneath the seafloor. This dramatic shift occurred when the volcano's underground magma chamber emptied abruptly, reshaping the seafloor across a 25-mile radius. According to Chadwick, a volcanologist and research professor at Oregon State University, the Axial Seamount acts a lot like the volcanoes in Hawaii and is set to spew out over a billion cubic feet of 'very fluid lava' weighing millions of tons at any moment. 'They tend to inflate like a balloon in between eruptions. At Axial, the seafloor is actually rising, and that's a big signal,' Chadwick said. Based on the 2015 eruption, he added that this year's magma explosion could produce a lava flow that's nearly as tall as Seattle's Space Needle. In recent weeks, there has been a massive uptick in the number of earthquakes under the seamount, caused by this magma pushing to the surface. The number of underwater quakes is expected to skyrocket during this event, rising from several hundred per day right now to 10,000 earthquakes within a 24-hour period as magma flows out of the seafloor volcano. According to a recent study, the efforts to predict Axial Seamount's next eruption since 2015 have failed because the seafloor's swelling slowed steadily between 2015 and 2023. However, the rate of swelling has recently sped up again, and the total rise is close to what it was before the 2015 eruption. Chadwick began investigating Axial in November 2024 after noticing the seafloor swelling to nearly the same height as before the most recent eruption. 'The volcano has suddenly woken up,' he stated in a 2024 study. This awakening is marked by rapid changes in the volcano's shape and behavior, particularly through a process called inflation, where magma pushes upward, causing the seafloor above to swell. Think of it like blowing up a balloon until it pops. The 2015 eruption marked a turning point for underwater volcano monitoring, thanks to the Ocean Observations Initiative, which installed a network of GPS, pressure sensors, and a high-definition camera system near the seamount. Axial has a well-documented history of eruptions recorded in 1998, 2011, and 2015. While the earlier two eruptions were detected only after the fact, the 2015 event was the first caught almost in real-time, paving the way for more precise forecasts. Despite its power, experts say Axial Seamount poses no threat to human communities. It's too deep and too far offshore for people to notice when it erupts and has no impact on seismic activity on land. 'It is probably the best-monitored submarine volcano in the world,' Chadwick said. Monitoring Axial offers scientists a rare chance to better understand underwater volcanic eruptions, events that are harder to see and predict than those on land.
Sustainability Times
21-05-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Volcano Awakens Beneath Pacific': Axial Seamount Heats Up Rapidly as Scientists Prepare for High-Risk Underwater Eruption
IN A NUTSHELL 🌋 Axial Seamount , a submarine volcano off Oregon, shows signs of imminent activity with increased seismic events. , a submarine volcano off Oregon, shows signs of imminent activity with increased seismic events. 📊 The volcano's magma chamber is inflating, causing thousands of small earthquakes, a precursor to potential eruptions. is inflating, causing thousands of small earthquakes, a precursor to potential eruptions. 🔍 Scientists from the National Science Foundation are monitoring the volcano, planning to livestream future eruptions for public engagement. are monitoring the volcano, planning to livestream future eruptions for public engagement. 🌊 Despite harsh conditions, life thrives around hydrothermal vents, showcasing the resilience of marine ecosystems in extreme environments. Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, the restless Axial Seamount volcano is stirring once again, sending ripples of anticipation through the scientific community. Located off the coast of Oregon, this underwater giant is showing signs of imminent activity. While predicting the exact timing of an eruption is a complex task, researchers are closely monitoring the situation, as the volcano could erupt as early as this year or possibly tomorrow. This seismic spectacle unfolds nearly a mile beneath the ocean surface, where the Pacific and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates are slowly separating, creating a dramatic and dynamic seafloor landscape. Magma Rising, Pressure Building In recent times, Axial Seamount has been steadily inflating with magma, a clear indication of its brewing activity. This buildup is accompanied by an increase in small earthquakes, a harbinger of the volcano's potential eruption. In 2015, the region experienced a staggering 10,000 earthquakes in just 24 hours as magma flowed from the volcano, creating a 25-mile-long trail underwater. The magma chamber beneath Axial Seamount has collapsed multiple times, forming a deep basin known as a caldera. Despite the harsh conditions, life thrives around the hydrothermal vents scattered across the caldera floor. These vents release mineral-rich fluids, attracting a vibrant community of microbes and other organisms. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as 'snowblowers.' Even after eruptions wipe out these life forms, they astonishingly regenerate within months, showcasing the resilience of life in extreme environments. 'Manta Ray Drones Are Coming': New Underwater Robots to Glide in Swarms With Unprecedented Military and Scientific Precision Ocean Feels the Shift, Land Remains Unaware While the underwater activity of Axial Seamount may have profound effects on marine life, it is unlikely to be noticed by people on land. According to experts, the eruptions are not explosive events that produce ash clouds visible above water. Instead, they are more akin to underwater fountains. Historical data suggests that these eruptions are most likely to occur between January and April, as seen in past events in 1998, 2011, and 2015. The gravitational influence of the moon, combined with seasonal shifts, may play a role in triggering these eruptions. As Earth moves farther from the sun during the early months of the year, the moon's gravitational pull on ocean tides causes variations in seafloor pressure. When magma is already near the surface, even minor stress changes can lead to an eruption. High tides, in particular, seem to correlate with increased seismic activity, potentially pushing the magma chamber to its limits. UK Unleashes Instant Drug Scanner: New High-Tech Street Weapon Can Detect Narcotics Before They're Even Consumed Scientific Endeavors and Public Engagement Researchers from the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative, operating the Regional Cabled Array at the University of Washington, are at the forefront of monitoring Axial Seamount. Their work is crucial in understanding the intricate dynamics of this underwater volcano. The observatory plans to livestream future eruptions, providing a unique opportunity for public engagement and education about these fascinating geological events. By capturing real-time data and imagery, scientists aim to unravel the mysteries of Axial Seamount and its impact on marine ecosystems. The collaboration between geophysicists, marine biologists, and oceanographers is essential in advancing our knowledge of underwater volcanoes and their role in shaping oceanic environments. This Green Concrete Is Made From Urine: German Scientists Recreate Sandstone Texture Using Waste in Eco-Tech Breakthrough The Resilient Ecosystems of Axial Seamount The resilience of life around Axial Seamount's hydrothermal vents is a testament to nature's ability to adapt and thrive in extreme conditions. These ecosystems, once devastated by volcanic eruptions, quickly bounce back, demonstrating the tenacity of life in the ocean's depths. This phenomenon highlights the potential of underwater volcanoes as major contributors to oceanic biodiversity. As scientists continue to explore and study these resilient ecosystems, they gain valuable insights into the origins of life on Earth and the potential for life on other planets. The unique conditions found at hydrothermal vents provide a window into the past and a glimpse of what might exist beyond our planet. As we stand on the brink of another potential eruption of Axial Seamount, the scientific community remains vigilant, ready to capture every moment of this geological spectacle. The mysteries of the deep ocean continue to intrigue and inspire, reminding us of the powerful forces at play beneath the surface. What new discoveries await in the depths of the Pacific, and how will they shape our understanding of the world? Did you like it? 4.4/5 (23)
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Scientists predict underwater volcano eruption 300 miles off Oregon
An underwater volcano off the Oregon coast could erupt late this year, scientists say. The volcano, known as Axial Seamount, is more than 4,900 feet beneath the Pacific Ocean and 300 miles off the Oregon coast, but it is showing signs it will soon erupt for the first time since 2015. The volcano is formed by a hot spot, an area in the Earth's mantle where hot plumes of molten material rise upward into the crust, the University of Washington's College of the Environment said in an April blog post. As the crust moves over the top of the mantle, the hot spot stays put, which results in long chains of volcanoes over time. "Over two-thirds of the Earth's surface was formed by volcanic eruptions at these mid-ocean ridges," said Maya Tolstoy, a marine geophysicist and dean of the university's College of the Environment. "Axial Seamount is a direct result of these fundamental processes that continue to shape our planet today." The eruption doesn't pose a danger, scientists said. "Axial Seamount is much too deep and far from shore for people on land to even notice when it erupts. An eruption at Axial Seamount also has nothing to do with seismic activity on land, so Pacific Northwesterners don't need to worry about this event triggering a major earthquake or tsunami," the blog post states. The first sign of an eruption at the volcano will be a sharp increase in the number of earthquakes around it, the post states. "The volcano has already surpassed the inflation we observed in 2015, but the earthquake activity is still quite low," said Deborah Kelley, a professor at the UW School of Oceanography and director of the Regional Cabled Array. "We're seeing 200 to 300 earthquakes per day, with some spikes around 1,000 per day due to the tides. If what we learned in 2015 is correct, I would expect to see more than 2,000 per day for a few months before the eruption." The quakes will be caused by magma moving toward the surface, the post states. "That period lasts about an hour, and then the magma reaches the surface," said William Wilcock, a professor at the UW School of Oceanography. "Lava flows spread across the caldera, and lava-filled fissures open up to the north or the south, reaching as far as 40 kilometers (about 25 miles). "The seismic activity dies down pretty quickly over the next few days, but the eruption will continue slowly for about a month."
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Massive volcano in Pacific Northwest is showing signs of re-awakening
A volcano in the Pacific Northwest is showing signs of activity with an eruption imminent. The Axial Seamount is a mile-wide underwater volcano that sits 300 miles off the coast of Oregon and more than 4,900 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Researchers with the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative have been monitoring this inevitable underwater explosion and now say that the volcano is giving off signs of becoming active. Situated along the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a chain of undersea volcanoes extending between Oregon and Alaska, Axial Seamount is a young shield volcano - a broader volcano with a low profile. Based on the 2015 eruption, Chadwick added that this year's magma explosion could produce a lava flow that's nearly as tall as Seattle's Space Needle. However, if Axial Seamount does blow within the next few days, experts say it won't pose any threat to communities along the West Coast. It's too deep and far from shore for people to even notice when it erupts, and it has no impact on seismic activity on land. Although few people have felt the tremors, the region has seen a sharp rise in the number of earthquakes in just the last month, with a major spike in activity recorded on April 13. Since May 6, the number of daily earthquakes under the seamount has been steadily rising. The number of underwater quakes is expected to skyrocket during this event, rising from several hundred per day right now to 10,000 earthquakes within a 24-hour period as magma flows out of the seafloor volcano, according to Interesting Engineering. Mike Poland, a scientist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, expressed excitement about the eruption, highlighting Axial Seamount as one of the world's best-monitored submarine volcanoes. 'This particular volcano is probably the best-monitored submarine volcano in the world,' he told Cowboy State Daily. 'It's fascinating and doesn't really pose a hazard.' Despite the growing anticipation among scientists, Axial Seamount's next eruption will likely come as a surprise to everyone tracking it. Wilcock's best guess is that the swelling lava finally erupts later in 2025 or even early 2026, but there's still chance it happens much sooner. Scott Nooner, a professor of geophysics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, told NBC News: 'It's much harder than forecasting the weather, even though the weather is a very difficult thing to forecast already.' 'There's still so much that we don't understand about what triggers eruptions and how magma moves around underneath the Earth's surface,' he added. Eruptions from Axial Seamount were recorded in 1998, 2011, and 2015, and the volcano has undoubtedly erupted numerous times prior to those events, according to Poland. In November 2024, Chadwick started investigating the volcano when he noticed its surface had swelled to nearly the same height it reached before its last eruption 10 years ago. The swelling that occurred prior to the 2015 eruption allowed Chadwick and his colleagues to predict that event. This time, the researchers' observations told them that Axial Seamount would erupt before the end of 2025. They also found that seismic activity at Axial Seamount had increased, with hundreds of earthquakes generated around the volcano per day and earthquake swarms greater than 500 per day. Wilcock said the first sign that an eruption from this volcano is imminent would be a sharp increase in the number of earthquakes around it - which the area is now experiencing. The team shared their findings at the annual American Geophysical Union conference in December 2024. This impending eruption will be a major research opportunity for Wilcock and other scientists, who plan to use a suite of high-tech instruments to monitor the eruption from start to finish. The University of Washington's College of the Environment hosts one of the largest underwater observatories in the world, comprised of networks of sensors along the seafloor and throughout the ocean waters. When Axial Seamount finally erupts, Wilcock and his colleagues will use this array to gather data and images of the event as it unfolds. Even though Axial is not a dangerous undersea volcano, the forecasting capabilities scientists have gained from studying it could help them predict eruptions from those that are. Nooner pointed out that when forecasters are wrong with their eruption predictions on land, it can cost people bother time and money through unnecessary evacuations. Watching the seamount explode will allow scientists to test out their latest forecasting models without the repercussions of getting it wrong in a populated area.
