Bottom of the Pacific Ocean leaking, could cause massive disasters? Let's see why scientists are saying this is alarming for the world.

Nuclear fusion, climate change and artificial intelligence - are some of the topics that often make headlines as potential threats or solutions for humanity's future. However, there is another event taking on at the Pacific Ocean's bottom right now that might have catastrophic effects on millions of people.

A hole in the seafloor approximately 80 kilometres off the Oregon coast has been revealed to be leaking water from beneath the Earth's crust's tectonic plates. 

This hole, named Pythia's Oasis after an ancient Greek oracle, is located on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 965 km long fault line that runs from northern California to Vancouver Island. This is where the Juan de Fuca plate slides under the North American plate, creating a lot of friction and stress.

Scientists stumbled upon this leak in 2015, when they noticed a stream of bubbles rising from the ocean floor. They were shocked to observe that the hole was not only spewing gas but also liquid like a firehose, even though they had anticipated finding methane seeps, which are frequent in this area. The leaking liquid had a different chemical composition and was 9°C warmer than the surrounding seawater which indicates that it came from deep within the Earth.

Why is this leak so alarming? 

Because it might create a large earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which is ripe for a big rupture. When this previously occurred in 1700, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake in the region triggered a huge wave that reached Japan.

 A 10–14% chance that such a catastrophe would occur in the next 50 years is estimated by specialists. It might happen at any time.

The leak could affect the stability of the fault line by changing the fluid pressure and lubrication between the plates. According to Evan Solomon, an oceanographer from the University of Washington who studied Pythia's Oasis, "The megathrust fault zone is like an air hockey table. When fluid pressure is high enough, you turn on the air and there is less friction and the two plates can slip. If fluid pressure is lower, then they lock and stress can build up."

For the first time, researchers have found such kind of leak at a subduction zone and they are trying to explore more about the origin of their findings and long term consequences in the region. They are also looking for other undetected leaks along the fault line, using underwater robots and seismic sensors. They hope to better understand how fluid dynamics influence earthquake activity and risk assessment.

The bottom of the Pacific Ocean leaking is a fascinating and frightening discovery that reminds us of how dynamic and unpredictable our planet is. It also emphasises the call for vigorous and deep research into our nature and strengthens early warning and disaster management systems to save millions of lives  As Pythia's Oasis continues to spew water into the ocean, we can only wonder what secrets and dangers lie beneath.