Scientists warned about an approaching volcanic eruption

Researchers sound the alarm: the powerful underwater volcano Axial Seamount, lurking in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, is showing signs of an approaching eruption. Located 500 kilometers off the coast of Oregon at an impressive depth of almost 1.5 kilometers below the ocean surface, this giant could awaken at any moment, reports the Daily Mail.

Scientific teams from the University of Washington and Oregon State University have recorded an alarming trend - the seafloor in the volcano area has begun to rise, clearly indicating the accumulation of magma in its depths. Similar deformation was observed before the powerful eruption of 2015, when Axial Seamount triggered a cascade of eight thousand underground tremors and created an impressive lava field up to 120 meters thick.

Current seafloor uplift indicators have already reached critical values, similar to those that preceded the last eruption. Seismic activity is also showing a sharp increase - on some days, instruments register more than 500 earthquakes, indicating growing pressure in the volcano's depths.

Over the past three decades, Axial Seamount has demonstrated its fiery character at least three times - in 1998, 2011, and 2015. This volcano is an extensive underwater shield with a gentle profile and is characterized by calm eruptions, releasing not explosive pyroclastic flows but smoothly flowing lava.

Despite the alarming signs, scientists reassure: the volcano poses no danger to the population. Its distance from shore and significant depth preclude any impact on coastal areas. However, for the scientific community, the upcoming eruption will be a unique opportunity to observe this grand natural process in real time thanks to a network of underwater sensors and modern telemetry.