A large underwater volcano, Axial Seamount, located nearly a mile below the surface off Oregon’s coast, is showing signs of an impending eruption. It sits on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, where tectonic plates pull apart, allowing magma to rise. Earthquake activity has recently increased, signaling mounting pressure. “At the moment, there are a couple hundred earthquakes a day,” said William Wilcock, a geophysicist. “It could erupt tomorrow… or sometime in early 2026.”

The last eruption in 2015 released magma across 25 miles of seafloor. Such events form craters (calderas) and release hydrothermal fluids that support life in extreme conditions. “Lava flows scorched small plants and animals… but within three months, their ecosystem was back,” said researcher Debbie Kelley.

Though eruptions stir marine life, they are not expected to harm it. People on land won’t notice the eruption, as it happens deep underwater with no ash clouds. “It’s like if you put a mile of seawater on top of Kilauea,” Kelley explained.

Axial’s eruptions often align with early-year high tides, possibly influenced by the moon’s gravity. The team plans to livestream the next eruption—something never done before—offering a rare view of Earth building itself from the seafloor.