Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Yellowstone and Axial Seamount are making headlines in 2025 due to increased activity, fueling speculation about possible eruptions.
Yellowstone last erupted 640,000 years ago, leaving a massive crater and spreading volcanic ash across the U.S.
Scientists estimate Yellowstone's magma lies 4 to 47 kilometers below the surface, with reservoirs dispersed rather than concentrated.
A U.S. Geological Survey, led by Ninfa Bennington and published in Nature, confirmed less magma than expected in Yellowstone's underground reservoirs.
Axial Seamount, a 2-km-wide underwater volcano, shows signs of an imminent eruption, with its surface swelling to pre-2015 levels.
Oregon State University researchers predicted Axial's 2015 eruption by monitoring seafloor cable data, an approach being refined for 2025 forecasts.
Credit: University of Washington
Scientists like Valerio Acocella are incorporating artificial intelligence to detect patterns in volcanic activity and enhance prediction accuracy.
While patterns help forecast eruptions, Acocella warns of the unpredictable nature of volcanoes, which can defy expectations.
Representative pic
Yellowstone's eruption remains extremely unlikely in 2025, but Axial Seamount’s activity signals a higher probability of eruption this year.