Axial Seamount, the most active undersea volcano in the Pacific Northwest, is under close observation and could erupt before the end of 2025. Located approximately 300 miles west of Astoria, Oregon, and nearly a mile beneath the ocean's surface, this volcano has drawn increasing scrutiny from scientists since its discovery in the 1980s.
The Ocean Observatories Initiative Regional Cabled Array, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides real-time data to track the volcano's activity. Scientists are monitoring the inflation and deflation patterns of the seafloor, which have historically helped predict eruptions. While an increase in earthquake activity was observed in March 2025, it has since stabilized.
Bill Chadwick from Oregon State University noted that eruptions are typically characterized by lava oozing rather than explosive events. The potential eruption is not expected to pose a threat to coastal communities or trigger tsunamis. Instead, it promises a display of lava flows and hydrothermal vent activity, which supports unique deep-sea ecosystems.