An ominous swarm of earthquakes off Oregon’s coast suggests the Axial Seamount—one of the Pacific’s most volatile underwater volcanoes—could erupt before the year ends.

At a Glance

• Axial Seamount sits 300 miles off Oregon’s coast, beneath nearly 5,000 feet of ocean.
• Over 300 earthquakes have struck the area in recent weeks.
• Scientists predict an eruption is likely within 2025.
• The volcano last erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015.
• While risk to humans is low, scientific opportunities are immense.

The Pacific’s Sleeping Beast Stirs

Axial Seamount, the most active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific, is stirring once again. Recent seismic activity—over 300 quakes—has scientists on high alert, noting patterns eerily similar to past pre-eruption phases. Located deep beneath the waves, this volcanic giant has a history of erupting every decade or so, and with 2025 underway, researchers say the clock is ticking.

Watch a report: Axial Seamount: America’s Most Active Volcano Awakening – GeologyHub

For decades, scientists from Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and NOAA have monitored Axial using the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Cabled Array—a sophisticated network of seismometers and sensors feeding real-time data. They’ve tracked the mountain’s inflation, a swelling caused by magma accumulation. When the pressure peaks, an eruption is virtually inevitable.

Risks, Rewards, and Real-Time Revelations

While Axial’s remote location minimizes immediate threats to human life, experts caution that even underwater eruptions can disrupt marine traffic, damage undersea infrastructure, or, in rare cases, generate small tsunamis. Still, the greatest stakes may be scientific. Each eruption offers an extraordinary window into how submarine volcanoes operate, potentially refining eruption forecasting for both underwater and land-based volcanoes.

The ongoing monitoring of Axial Seamount reflects the cutting edge of oceanic science. With instruments capturing every seismic shudder and volcanic breath, researchers are positioned to witness—and learn from—nature’s raw power as it unfolds. Whether or not Axial erupts this year, the data gathered ensures humanity inches closer to decoding Earth’s dynamic heartbeat.