Overview

• Axial Seamount, located 5,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon coast, has reached inflation levels observed before its last three eruptions, signaling an imminent event.
• The region is experiencing up to 2,000 daily earthquakes, a key indicator of rising volcanic activity as magma builds beneath the surface.
• While the volcano's eruption is unlikely to pose significant tsunami risks to coastal regions due to its depth and distance from land, scientists remain cautious following lessons from the 2022 Tonga eruption.
• Lava flows from the eruption are expected to devastate hydrothermal vent ecosystems, which host unique marine life reliant on the nutrient-rich environment.
• This event offers a rare opportunity for researchers to observe submarine volcanic processes in real time, as no human has directly witnessed an eruption along this volcanic chain.