The prediction of volcanic eruption by a geologist, Bill Chadwick at Oregon State University came true.
There were nearly 8,000 earthquakes recorded off the Oregon coast caused by the underwater volcanic eruption which is suspected to have occurred on 24 April.
The eruption occurred at about 300 miles offshore at the Axial Seamount.
The signs of the eruption were visible from past five months, and on April 24 they spiked resulting in the rise of temperature and causing the sea floor to drop by two meters.
The magnitude of earthquake was 1 or 2 and there was gradual seafloor movement, there is no danger of Tsunami.
Researchers say that volcanic activity is alarming and with the research data they can also find out about volcanoes which can pose danger to residents located nearby.
Researchers said that the underwater volcanic eruption is not yet confirmed as they don’t have required information, it is just a speculation.
Chadwick said, “It isn’t clear yet whether the earthquakes and deflation at Axial are related to a full-blown eruption, or if it is only a large intrusion of magma that hasn’t quite reached the surface, there are some hints that lava did erupt, but we may not know for sure until we can get out there with a ship.”
This incidence is very important to researchers, because they want data by which they can predict volcanic activity. Volcanic eruptions on land are trickier to predict since they have thick crusts and are affected by surroundings such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
Researchers hope that if they can predict volcanic eruptions underwater then it can increase predictability for dangerous volcanic eruptions.
Chadwick said, “Because Axial is on very thin ocean crust, its ‘plumbing system’ is simpler than at most volcanoes on land that are often complicated by other factors related to having a thicker crust, thus Axial can give us insights into how volcano magma systems work – and how eruptions might be predicted.”
Underwater observatory was used to predict volcanic activity. This observatory costs $200 million.
It has a network of 600 miles coaxial cable that tracks data and powers multiple seismometers, microbial samplers, etc.
This observatory is used to check on the volcanic activity every day, if something happens it can be noted and then check the pattern over long period of time.