Scientists have discovered a mysterious leak in the ocean. But this seepage does not leak water from the sea into the Earth’s lower crust. Instead, it leaks warm liquid into the Pacific Ocean. The vent was located at the top of a fault in the Cascadia subduction zone, according to the University of Washington press release.

This fault is located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The leak was first discovered in 2015 and has been named the Pythian Oasis. Early observations of the seepage on the ocean floor show that it is unlike the near-freshwater ocean seeps we have seen before.

However, a new article published in the journal Science Progresss suggests that the fluid from the seep may actually be a type of tectonic lubricant. Additionally, seepage of this fluid into the ocean could spell disaster for the Cascadia subduction zone fault.

When the researchers first discovered the leak, it was about 16 degrees warmer than the water around it. Water seeping into the ocean from the seep is believed to have come from the Cascadia mega thrust, with temperatures estimated to be between 300 (148.89 °C) and 500 (260.00 °C) degrees Fahrenheit, according to new calculations.

Why is this important? The researchers explain that the loss of fluid found in the offshore megathrust can reduce the pressure of the fluid that builds up between the sediment particles. This reduced pressure can cause friction between oceanic and continental tectonic plates.

Simply put, it can cause tectonic plates under the ocean and the continent of the United States to lock up and create stress that can eventually lead to earthquakes. While this is the first ocean seep of its kind to be discovered, the researchers say there may be others, possibly even nearby.

The Cascadia subduction zone is known for some of the strongest earthquakes in the world, so scientists are worried about the leak and what it could mean for the megashock detected in the area. Of course, it didn’t reach the same magnitude as the great earthquake that struck Chile 1,000 years ago, but it still probably caused terrible destruction.

We hope this leak can help us learn more about how plate tectonics works, a field of study that is still fairly new for researchers. But it’s also a terrifying reminder of how addicted we are to the changing plates under our feet and the consequences of their actions.