Axial seamount primed for Eruption: Scientists predict timeline
The underwater volcano Axial Seamount is on the brink of eruption. Scientists warn that the eruption is inevitable.
The underwater volcano Axial Seamount is located approximately 480 kilometres off the coast of Oregon. According to the Science Alert portal, it shows signs of an impending eruption. Scientists predict that the volcano will erupt before the end of 2025.
The process of the mountain's surface uplift is a result of increasing pressure exerted by the magma beneath. This pressure causes the mountain to gradually rise.
Increased seismic activity heralds eruptions
The shield structure of the volcano indicates that the eruption will not be dramatic, and the lava will flow to the surface, creating a new ocean floor. The last such events occurred in 1998, 2011, and 2015. Currently, the volcano has reached the same critical level as before the last eruption. The level currently reached is similar to that before the last eruption, suggesting that a similar event may occur soon. During the eruption, magma spreads over the surface, creating new fragments of the seabed. This phenomenon helps us avoid the dangers associated with tsunami formation, which is good news for the surrounding areas.
The eruption will aid in research
Recent seismic research has revealed the existence of multiple magma reservoirs beneath the volcano. They are located asymmetrically in the upper crust beneath layers of basalt and gabbro. A connection between the main magma reservoir and the eruption fissures on the sea floor has also been identified.
Axial Seamount lies at the junction of the Juan de Fuca and Pacific tectonic plates, where new ocean floor is formed due to plate pressure. "We hope that the lessons learned here will be applicable to volcanoes worldwide," says Chadwick. The new research was published in "Nature".
