Why Axial Seamount Is So Predictable

Wide Lenz

Axial Seamount is one of the most closely studied underwater volcanoes on Earth.  Scientists observed its 2015 eruption in remarkable detail, recording the seafloor rising as magma accumulated, increasing earthquakes, new cracks opening, and lava spreading across the ocean floor.  Researchers used those observations and hundreds of sensors to build models for the next eruption. But Axial Seamount didn’t behave exactly as expected.  That makes it an extraordinary natural laboratory for understanding how volcanoes work and a reminder that even with advanced monitoring, nature can still surprise us.

Transcript

00:00most volcanoes can stay quiet for centuries.

00:02Axial seamount is different.

00:05It has erupted repeatedly over relatively short intervals,

00:08making it one of the best natural laboratories

00:10for studying volcanic eruptions.

00:13Scientists observed its 2015 eruption

00:15in extraordinary detail.

00:18Before the eruption, the seafloor rose

00:20as magma accumulated underneath,

00:23then earthquakes increased, cracks opened,

00:26and lava poured across the ocean floor.

00:29Researchers used those observations

00:31to build models for the next eruption.

00:34But there was one problem.

00:36The volcano didn't follow the expected schedule.

00:40That's why Axial is teaching scientists something important.

00:43Even with hundreds of sensors,

00:46volcanoes can still surprise us.

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