More than a thousand meters under the surface of the Pacific, a silent threat is created without many knowing it. This is the Seamount Axial, an active submarine volcano located off the coast of Oregon that, according to scientists, could erupt at any time. What makes it unique is not only its behavior, but also the access it offers to study it in real time.
The Seamount axial, a geological pump under pressure
The Seamount axial is not just any volcano. Located about 400 km from the Oregon coast, almost 1.4 km deep, sits on a hot point where the magma springs from the terrestrial mantle. In addition, it is located on Juan de Fuca’s dorsal, where the Pacific and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates are separated, generating tension and accumulation of magma.
Recent observations of the University of Washington indicate a significant increase in seismic activity. The volcano is “inflating”, which could mean that an eruption is close. The geophysicist William Wilcock warns that, although it still does not reach the level of activity of the 2015 eruption, it could explode tomorrow … or in 2026.
when the background of the ocean comes alive (and is destroyed)
During its last eruption, the Axial Seamount released thousands of earthquakes in just 24 hours. Lava jets moved through the seabed for a month, completely transforming the landscape. The boiler of the volcano collapsed, forming a crater full of life: bacteria, tube worms and other species survive thanks to hydrothermal sources rich in minerals.
But that life is fragile. In each eruption, the lava devastates the ecosystems … that then resurfaces quickly. “It is one of the most extraordinary discoveries we have made,” said Debbie Kelley, director of the Cabled Array Regional Observatory. And even more: the next eruption is expected to be broadcast live.
A geological show without ash or rumble
Unlike terrestrial volcanoes, this underwater phenomenon will not cause large explosions or clouds of ash. Kelley compares him to put a mile of water on the kilauea: there could be visible jets, but the water contains the violence.
These events are common in the oceanic background, where most volcanic activity on the planet occurs almost invisible. The Magma of the Seamount is only 1.6 km from the surface, much closer than in most volcanoes on the ground, and its low viscosity reduces the pressure and risk of explosiveness.
When the moon pulls the volcano
The most surprising thing is that the cosmic calendar also seems to influence. The last three eruptions occurred between January and April, just when the earth moves away from the Sun. Scientists suspect that the gravitational attraction of the moon, altering sea pressure with the tides, could detonate the activity of the volcano by submitting its boiler to additional tensions.
Each high tide pushes the SEAMOUT axial a little more towards its next outbreak. And if the forecasts succeed, we could witness how a new chapter opens in the geological history of the planet … from the comfort of our screens.
){kind=link}