World’s Most Active Underwater Volcano May Be Ready To Erupt Again in 2025, Scientists Warn
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World’s Most Active Underwater Volcano May Be Ready To Erupt Again in 2025, Scientists Warn
The Axial Seamount, the most active volcano in the Northeast Pacific, is showing strong signs of preparing for another eruption. Scientists are closely monitoring its magma reservoirs, which have been swelling steadily since the last eruption in 2015. Unlike land-based volcanoes, submarine eruptions are influenced by extreme pressure, rapid cooling, and dynamic interactions with seawater. These factors make each eruption at Axial a chance to understand how magma behaves under the ocean floor. Submarine eruptions release not only lava but also vast amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and minerals into the ocean. These materials feed microbial communities and shape hydrothermal vent ecosystems that support unique life forms. The volcano is also a test case for long-term ocean monitoring. Networks of sensors deployed on the seafloor allow real-time tracking of volcanic activity.
A Hidden Volcano Beneath The Pacific
Although Axial is the most active submarine volcano in its region, it remains unknown to most because it is concealed beneath the ocean’s surface. As volcanologist Bill Chadwick emphasized in an interview on Oregon Public Broadcasting: “Axial is the most active volcano in the Northeast Pacific which maybe some people don’t know, because it’s hidden under the ocean.” This invisibility makes its activity less dramatic than terrestrial eruptions like Hawaii’s Kīlauea, but no less significant. Scientists are closely monitoring its magma reservoirs, which have been swelling steadily since the last eruption in 2015. Seismic swarms, ground deformation, and hydrothermal vent changes point to magma movement deep below, suggesting that another eruption may not be far away.
The location of Axial Seamount and surrounding tectonic plates. (Lyn Topinka/USGS)
A Unique Laboratory For Submarine Volcanism
Axial Seamount is not just a geological curiosity—it is one of the best natural laboratories for studying submarine volcanic processes. Unlike land-based volcanoes, submarine eruptions are influenced by extreme pressure, rapid cooling, and dynamic interactions with seawater. These factors make each eruption at Axial a chance to understand how magma behaves under the ocean floor. Researchers emphasize that its position on the Juan de Fuca Ridge and connection to a hot mantle plume make it particularly active. The volcano provides crucial insights into how magma chambers inflate and how fissures propagate before eruptions. The eruption patterns observed in 1998, 2011, and 2015 revealed that activity tends to concentrate along the caldera’s eastern wall. As geophysicist Jidong Yang and his team noted: “The reason for the connection between the high-melt zone and the focusing of eruptive fissures near the eastern caldera wall in 1998, 2011, and 2015 remains unclear.”
The Signals Of An Approaching Eruption
Evidence collected through seafloor sensors shows unmistakable signs of inflation in Axial’s magma reservoir. After the 2015 eruption, scientists documented a steady uplift of the caldera floor, caused by the accumulation of magma. By 2024, that uplift had exceeded levels observed before the last eruption, raising expectations that another event is imminent. Microearthquakes, often linked to magma moving through cracks, are becoming more frequent. Hydrothermal activity is also shifting, indicating new heat sources below. Unlike on land, these eruptions are rarely destructive to human settlements, but they play a fundamental role in shaping the seafloor and regulating hydrothermal ecosystems.
Why Axial Matters Beyond Geology
The eruptions of Axial Seamount are not just geological phenomena; they influence ocean chemistry, ecosystems, and even global climate processes. Submarine eruptions release not only lava but also vast amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and minerals into the ocean. These materials feed microbial communities and shape hydrothermal vent ecosystems that support unique life forms. The volcano is also a test case for long-term ocean monitoring. Networks of sensors deployed on the seafloor allow real-time tracking of volcanic activity, making Axial one of the most closely observed submarine volcanoes in the world. Its study helps scientists predict not only submarine eruptions but also the behavior of larger volcanic systems worldwide.
World’s Most Active Underwater Volcano May Be Ready To Erupt Again in 2025, Scientists Warn
The Axial Seamount, recognized as the most active volcano in the Northeast Pacific, is exhibiting strong signs of preparing for another eruption. Eruptions underwater are influenced by extreme pressure, rapid cooling, and dynamic interactions with seawater, which differentiate them from terrestrial eruptions. Submarine eruptions release not only lava but also large volumes of carbon dioxide, methane, and various minerals into the ocean. These materials can nourish microbial communities and influence hydrothermal vent ecosystems that harbor unique forms of life. The potential reawakening offers a unique opportunity for researchers to observe the operational mechanisms of submarine volcanoes and their impact on geological features and ocean ecosystems. It is also a test case for long-term ocean monitoring, as networks of sensors installed on the seafloor allow for real-time tracking of volcanic activity.
Despite being the most active submarine volcano in its region, Axial often goes unnoticed due to its concealment beneath the ocean’s surface. As volcanologist Bill Chadwick noted in an interview, “Axial is the most active volcano in the Northeast Pacific which maybe some people don’t know because it’s hidden under the ocean.” This lack of visibility renders its eruptions less dramatic compared to those on land, such as Hawaii’s Kīlauea, yet they hold significant scientific value. Current monitoring of the volcano’s magma reservoirs shows that they have been steadily inflating since the last eruption in 2015. Signals such as seismic swarms, ground deformation, and changes in hydrothermal vents suggest that magma is on the move deep beneath the surface, indicating that another eruption could be imminent.
Axial Seamount is not merely a geological curiosity; it serves as one of the best natural laboratories for understanding submarine volcanic processes. Eruptions underwater are influenced by extreme pressure, rapid cooling, and dynamic interactions with seawater, which differentiate them from terrestrial eruptions. Researchers underline that Axial’s position on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, along with its connection to a hot mantle plume, contributes to its high level of activity. The volcano provides invaluable insights into how magma chambers inflate and how fissures propagate prior to an eruption. Past eruption patterns observed in 1998, 2011, and 2015 show a tendency for activity to aggregate along the caldera’s eastern wall; however, as geophysicist Jidong Yang and his colleagues point out, the reason behind the connection between the high-melt zone and the concentration of eruptive fissures remains unclear.
Recent evidence gathered from seafloor sensors reveals unmistakable signs of inflation in the magma reservoir beneath Axial. Following its last eruption in 2015, researchers tracked a steady uplift of the caldera floor due to magma accumulation. By 2024, this uplift had surpassed levels recorded before the previous eruption, raising expectations that another volcanic event is drawing near. The frequency of microearthquakes, associated with magma movement through the crust, has been increasing, further supporting the notion of an approaching upheaval. Changes in hydrothermal activity also hint at new heat sources lying beneath. While eruptions from Axial may not pose threats to human settlements like terrestrial eruptions often do, they play a crucial role in shaping the seafloor and maintaining hydrothermal ecosystems.
The significance of Axial Seamount extends beyond geology; its eruptions have profound implications for ocean chemistry, ecosystems, and even global climate processes. Submarine eruptions release not only lava but also large volumes of carbon dioxide, methane, and various minerals into the ocean. These materials can nourish microbial communities and influence hydrothermal vent ecosystems that harbor unique forms of life. Furthermore, Axial serves as a test case for long-term ocean monitoring, as networks of sensors installed on the seafloor allow for real-time tracking of volcanic activity. This makes Axial one of the most closely monitored submarine volcanoes globally, aiding scientists in forecasting not only submarine eruptions but also the behavior of larger geological systems worldwide.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/08/world-most-active-underwater-volcano-erupt/