The Axial Seamount underwater volcano near the Oregon coast could erupt soon, scientists have warned, following the detection of more earthquakes in the region.

About Axial Seamount
Axial Seamount is the most active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific Ocean, located about 300 miles (480 km) off the coast of Oregon, USA. It is an underwater shield volcano and a key site for scientific research, featuring the world's first cabled underwater volcano observatory. 

Key Features

• Location: Situated on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a tectonic plate boundary where the Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates are spreading apart. It also lies above the Cobb hotspot.
• Structure: The seamount rises about 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) above the seafloor to a summit depth of approximately 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) below sea level. Its summit has an unusual, rectangular-shaped caldera.
• Activity: Axial Seamount has effusive, non-explosive lava flows, similar to Kīlauea in Hawaii, so it poses no tsunami or safety threat to people on land. It erupts frequently on a predictable cycle of inflation and deflation, with documented eruptions in 1998, 2011, and 2015.
• Hydrothermal Vents: The volcano is home to hydrothermal vents, or underwater hot springs, which release mineral-rich plumes heated by magma. These vents support unique deep-sea ecosystems based on chemosynthesis, including giant tubeworms, spider crabs, and bacterial mats. 

Scientific Importance and Monitoring
Axial Seamount is considered the most closely observed patch of seafloor in the world. It is a central part of the Ocean Observatories Initiative's (OOI) Regional Cabled Array, a high-tech network of sensors that stream real-time data on seismic activity, seafloor deformation (uplift and deflation), and changes in water temperature and chemistry to shore. 

This extensive monitoring has allowed scientists to:

• Make the first successful eruption forecasts for a submarine volcano, based on observed patterns of seafloor inflation caused by rising magma.
• Study how deep-sea ecosystems recover after being covered by lava flows.
• Gain valuable insights into plate tectonics and general volcanic processes, which helps improve understanding and prediction capabilities for land-based volcanoes. 

Current Status
As of late 2024 and early 2025, scientists have reported increased seismic activity and significant uplift of the seafloor, indicating a buildup of magma that suggests another eruption could be imminent, possibly before the end of 2025. 

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