A highly active underwater volcano, known as Axial Seamount, could erupt by the end
of 2025. This volcano, which sits thousands of feet below the surface, is located 300
miles off the coast of Oregon. Axial Seamount, formed by the spreading of the Juan de
Fuca and Pacific tectonic plates in the ocean, poses no threat to people. While the lava
could bury some sea life, other organisms, such as chemotrophic microbes, may
actually benefit from the volcanic activity and repopulate from newly-formed
hydrothermal vents.
Bill Chadwick, a research associate at Oregon State University, monitors the seamount
using sensors connected to the University of Washington’s Ocean Observation Initiative
Regional Cabled Array Network, which is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Chadwick says that the submarine volcano makes for a great “laboratory,” since it is
safe to make forecasts without any potential hazard to people on land.
News about the volcano has been featured in numerous media outlets, including
Discover Magazine, LA Times, NY Times, and NBC News.