US: Underwater volcano shows signs of impending eruption.

Temperatures are rising off the coast of Oregon, USA, as the underwater volcano Axial Seamount shows signs of impending eruption.

Marine microorganisms thrive around the hydrothermal vents of Axial Seamount - Photo: UW/NSF-OOI/WHOI, V18

The Axial Seamount volcano is located nearly 1.4 km above sea level and sits on the Juan de Fuca Ridge – an area where two large tectonic plates, the Pacific Plate and the Juan de Fuca Plate, are separating, with numerous hydrothermal vents.

"The volcano could erupt later this year, or even tomorrow."

According to researchers monitoring the Axial Seamount volcano, the frequency of recent earthquakes has increased significantly as the area around the volcano swells with more and more magma – a sign that an eruption is imminent, CNN reported on May 8.

"Currently, there are a few hundred earthquakes every day, but that's still far fewer than what we saw during the previous eruption."

"I think it could erupt in late 2025 or early 2026, but it could also be tomorrow because it's completely unpredictable," said William Wilcock, a professor in the oceanography department at the University of Washington.

However, the three most recent eruptions of Axial Seamount, which occurred in 1998, 2011, and 2015, all took place between January and April, a time when the Earth moves farther away from the Sun.

Tube worms thrive on a strange rock formation at Axial Seamount - Photo: UW/NSF-OOI

What happens during an eruption?

During the most recent eruption of the Axial Seamount, which occurred in April 2015, the research team observed approximately 10,000 small earthquakes in a 24-hour period, and magma spewed from the crater for a month, spreading about 40km across the seabed. Therefore, Wilcock predicted a similar situation would occur with this eruption.

Previous eruptions of the Axial Seamount volcano have wiped out the small plants and animals living in the hydrothermal vents. However, just three months later, their ecosystems have returned and thrived thanks to the mineral-rich gases released from these vents.

Meanwhile, marine life living near the crater, such as fish, whales, and octopuses, may feel the heat radiating from the earthquake but remain unharmed. People on land will likely not notice the eruption.

Eruptions can be observed.

Fortunately, the Axial Seamount volcano doesn't usually erupt violently, making it ideal for scientists to observe. Debbie Kelley, director of the Regional Cabled Array, said that the next time the volcano erupts, they even plan to livestream the event.

Observing an underwater volcano erupting is no easy task. Scientists only directly witnessed such an eruption for the first time on April 29th at the Tica volcano, located about 2,092 km west of Costa Rica.

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ANH THU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/my-nui-lua-duoi-bien-co-dau-hieu-sap-phun-trao-20250509121948071.htm