Scientists Expect Underwater Volcano Off Oregon Coast To Erupt In 2025

Researchers monitoring an active submarine volcano off the coast of Oregon say recent activity suggests it could erupt this year. The Axial Seamount, located about 300 miles offshore, has followed a predictable pattern of eruptions over the last three decades.

Scientists tracking the volcano have recorded three eruptions since the late 1990s, occurring in 1998, 2011, and 2015. Observations show the volcano has been inflating due to the accumulation of molten rock, which has preceded past eruptions. Based on this pattern, experts believe another event is likely in 2025.

William Chadwick, a research associate at Oregon State University, pointed to the consistency of Axial Seamount’s activity. “It seems to have this pretty repeatable pattern from one eruption to the next,” he said. Scientists use seismometers and other monitoring devices connected by underwater cables to collect real-time data, making Axial Seamount one of the most closely studied underwater volcanoes in the world.

Despite the likelihood of an eruption, researchers say there is no risk to humans. The volcano sits nearly a mile beneath the surface, meaning any eruption would not create noticeable effects above the water. “If you were on a boat above the volcano, you wouldn’t know at all that it had erupted,” said Scott Nooner, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Axial Seamount is classified as a shield volcano, similar to those found in Hawaii, meaning its eruptions are typically characterized by steady lava flows rather than explosive activity. Scientists have been using the site as a natural laboratory to improve eruption forecasting techniques, testing methods that could one day help predict more dangerous volcanic events.

A team of researchers deployed remotely operated equipment to the volcano in June 2024, gathering additional data. Scientists hope continued monitoring will provide further insight into volcanic activity and how eruptions can be predicted more accurately in the future.