Overview

• Axial Seamount, located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge 300 miles off the Oregon coast, is steadily inflating with magma and experiencing heightened seismic activity.
• Scientists recorded over 1,000 daily earthquakes in late March and early April, with current rates remaining elevated at hundreds per day.
• The volcano's last eruption in 2015 involved 10,000 earthquakes in 24 hours and lava flows extending 25 miles across the seafloor.
• Hydrothermal vent ecosystems at the volcano recover rapidly after eruptions, with flourishing life observed within months of past events.
• While the eruption is expected to have no impact on humans or land, researchers are using Axial Seamount as a natural laboratory to refine eruption forecasting models.