Marine life's latest hotspot could be an underwater volcano primed to erupt by Oregon

A three-dimensional map of the seabed shows the shape of the caldera of the Axial Seamount volcano. Warm colors show shallower depths and cool colors are deeper.

A researcher monitoring Axial Seamount, 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, says the eruption is expected to happen before the year is over.

(Image credit: Susan Merle)