Seafloor monitoring data from NSF-funded network

Axial Seamount Volcano Near Oregon Predicted to Erupt in 2025

Jan 3, 2025, 07:11 PM

Scientists have identified the submarine volcano Axial Seamount, located about 470 kilometers off the Oregon coast, as likely to erupt in 2025. This prediction is based on a decade of monitoring data, which revealed significant inflation of the volcano’s surface, with an annual inflation rate of 25 cm, and increased seismic activity. Axial Seamount is considered the most well-instrumented submarine volcano globally and has previously erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015. Researchers, led by William Chadwick of Oregon State University, presented their findings at the American Geophysical Union meeting, emphasizing the volcano's readiness for eruption. Chadwick, who successfully predicted the 2015 eruption, noted that the volcano’s inflation has reached over 95% of its pre-2015 eruption level. The monitoring is supported by an NSF-funded network. The eruption is expected to be accompanied by thousands of earthquakes and a seafloor drop of nearly 2.4 meters. While submarine volcanoes generally pose less risk to human populations than terrestrial ones, exceptions like the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption highlight potential hazards, including tsunamis and ash fallout.