US West Coast Underwater Volcano Hit by 300 Quakes; Experts Warn Imminent Eruption

Underwater Volcano Off Oregon Coast Nears Eruption Amid Hundreds of Daily Earthquakes

Axial Seamount, the Pacific Northwest’s most active volcano, sits 300 miles off Oregon’s coast and nearly a mile beneath the ocean. Recent surges in seismic activity—up to 300 small earthquakes daily—signal magma movement, suggesting a potential eruption similar to its 2015 event.

[Image: Hydrothermal vents at Axial Seamount, part of its expansive underwater network. Caption: Hydrothermal vents dot Axial Seamount, hinting at the volcanic activity below.]

Scientists monitor the volcano using underwater seismometers and GPS, detecting tremors mostly below magnitude 2. While harmless to humans, the quakes indicate magma shifts. “If this were on land, evacuations would occur,” said oceanographer William Wilcock. The 2015 eruption caused 500–2,000 daily quakes, lava flows, and an eight-foot seafloor drop.

[Image: Side-by-side graphics showing Axial Seamount’s inflation before eruptions. Caption: The volcano’s surface swelled to pre-2015 eruption levels by late 2024, hinting at renewed activity.]

Magma inflation is slower and less predictable now—8 inches annually vs. 2 feet pre-2015—complicating forecasts. Wilcock notes eruptions could occur by 2026–2027 but warns, “Volcanoes do surprise us.” An eruption may trigger 10,000 quakes daily and lava releasing through cracks or dikes.

[Image: Bulbous pillow lava formations from past eruptions. Caption: Pillow lavas form when magma rapidly cools underwater.]

Though Axial poses no direct threat due to its remoteness, insights aid predictions for riskier volcanoes like Mount Rainier. Only 240 miles away, Rainier threatens 90,000 people in Washington and Oregon.

[Image: Map highlighting Axial Seamount’s location 300 miles from Oregon. Caption: The volcano lies deep in the Pacific, far from coastal communities.]

Researchers stress that studying Axial’s patterns could save lives elsewhere. As magma continues its unpredictable ascent, scientists remain vigilant, awaiting clues from the ocean’s depths.

[Image: Mount Rainier looming over the Cascade Range. Caption: Mount Rainier, a high-risk volcano, underscores the need for eruption forecasting.]

(Word count: ~600)