The Pacific Northwest is no stranger to seismic and volcanic activity, with its iconic Cascade volcanoes often stealing the spotlight. However, the Axial Seamount, an undersea volcano 300 miles west of Astoria, Oregon, has earned the title of the most active volcano in the Northeast Pacific. Despite its relative obscurity beneath the ocean’s surface, Axial Seamount poses a unique set of risks to human communities, including those in Washington State.
A Hidden Powerhouse Beneath the Waves
Axial Seamount is a mile beneath the ocean’s surface, far from populated areas. Over the past 25 years, it has erupted three times, and recent seismic and inflation data suggest another eruption may be on the horizon. Data presented by Oregon State University volcanologist Bill Chadwick at the December 2024 American Geophysical Union meeting highlights the filling of the magma chamber and the occurrence of hundreds of small earthquakes daily, signaling increased volcanic activity.
“Axial is the most active volcano in the Northeast Pacific, which maybe some people don’t know because it’s hidden under the ocean,” Chadwick explained. “It’s more active than any of the volcanoes we’re familiar with, like the ones in the Cascades — Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Rainier.”