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Underwater volcano in the Pacific Northwest shows signs of eruption
Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano situated roughly 300 miles from Oregon's shoreline at a depth close to 4,900 feet, is exhibiting signs that an eruption could be imminent.
Scientists detected increased earthquakes and volcano inflation from magma buildup, which typically precede eruptions, though exact timing remains uncertain.
Researchers use UW's Cabled Array, a major ocean observatory, to monitor seismic activity and observe phenomena like lava flows and microbial-rich 'snowblower' plumes.
Deborah Kelley described the eruption as a remarkable natural event, highlighting its importance for scientific observation and noting that underwater eruptions are unlikely to generate tsunamis or cause significant damage to land areas.
This potential eruption offers a rare chance to study geological and biological processes without threatening human safety, as underwater eruptions pose limited risk to land.