An underwater volcano off the Oregon coast is showing signs of an imminent eruption, according to scientists monitoring the site. The Axial Seamount, located about 300 miles offshore and nearly a mile beneath the surface, is the most active volcano in the Pacific Northwest. Researchers from Oregon State University report that the volcano has been inflating significantly, indicating that molten rock is accumulating inside.

William Chadwick, a research associate at Oregon State University, noted that since the start of the year, the volcano has been inflating "like a balloon." In June, the area experienced a surge in seismic activity, with over 2,000 earthquakes recorded in a single day. Although the frequency of these earthquakes has fluctuated, hundreds continue to occur daily. Chadwick stated, "At the rate of inflation it’s going, I expect it to erupt by the end of the year."

The Axial Seamount is situated along the Juan de Fuca Ridge and has erupted three times in the past 30 years, with the last eruption occurring in 2015. Researchers are closely monitoring the volcano using a network of instruments and cables that extend from the coast. These include seismometers that provide real-time data on seismic activity.

Rika Anderson, an associate professor at Carleton College, explained the importance of this monitoring. "Miles of fiber optic cable are providing power and internet to instruments on the seafloor that allow us to monitor not just the seismic activity at Axial Seamount, but also how life on the seafloor responds to eruptions and perturbations in general," she said.

The volcano typically produces non-explosive eruptions that occur far enough from the coast to pose no threat to human life or property. Chadwick emphasized that the eruptions are similar to those found in Hawaii and Iceland, characterized by fluid lava that flows steadily rather than explosively. When the lava meets seawater, it cools rapidly, forming a crust.

While the eruptions may impact marine life near the volcano, scientists believe they will not affect larger animals, such as whales, which do not swim at such depths. Researchers are also studying the microbes living in the hydrothermal vents of the volcano to understand their responses to changes in the environment. Anderson noted, "Some of those microbes live in boiling hot water, some breathe iron or sulfur, they fight off viral infection just like we do, they may hold clues as to the earliest steps in the evolution of life on earth."

Accurate predictions of eruptions at the Axial Seamount could enhance understanding of volcanic activity and help forecast potential eruptions on land that may pose risks to human populations. However, predicting volcanic eruptions remains challenging due to the limited historical data available for many volcanoes.