Vent Fields
Welcome to the InterRidge Global Database of Active Submarine Hydrothermal Vent Fields (the “InterRidge Vents Database”).
To sort the list of Vent Fields, click on a column header.
To view details for a specific Vent Field, click on the Name ID.
To view the subset of Vent Fields that contain a specific category, click on the category (for example, "active, confirmed" in the "Activity" column).
| Vent Field Name ID | Activity |
Tectonic Setting |
Region | Latitude | Longitude | Maximum or Single Reported Depth | Year and How Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEISEIR site 20, segment L3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.9508 | 87.8008 | 2400 | 2010 plume only |
| SEIR-WXC02 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 137.0000 | 2620 | 2015 plume only |
| EPR, Seamount 5 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 13.0000 | -103.5000 | 1100 | 1988 or earlier camera and/or submersible (need to check reference) |
| Green Seamount | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 20.8033 | -109.2833 | 2000 | 1982 submersible Alvin observed only inactive |
| Red Seamount | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 20.8033 | -109.3783 | 2000 | 1982 submersible Alvin |
| SWIR, D20 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -53.0200 | 22.1880 | 4170 | 2000-2001 plume and dredge only |
| Markov Deep | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 5.9100 | -33.1800 | 3500 | 2001-2002 and 2003 dredge only |
| Precious Stone Mountain | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.2200 | -101.4900 | 1700 | 2009 deep-tow video and TV grab |
| E Los Huellos Caldera | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 0.9500 | -90.5300 | 1600 | 2005 plume only; 2005 towed video Medea did not confirm activity |
| EPR, 21 20'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.3670 | -114.2570 | 2900 | 1981 plume only; 1987-1988 deposits only |
| NESCA | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 41.0000 | -127.4917 | 3300 | 1988 submersible Alvin; 1986 dredge and photographs did not confirm activity |
| EPR, 10 02'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.0330 | -104.3300 | 2560 | 1992 submersible Alvin |
| GEISEIR site 30, segment O1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -46.6240 | 96.0594 | 2500 | 2009 plume only |
| TaiJi | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -13.5900 | -14.5200 | 3180 | 2011 plume only |
| MAR, 11 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 11.0380 | -43.6483 | 4010 | 1984 plume only; 2009 plume only |
| Flow | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 46.5250 | -129.5783 | 2390 | 1993 ROV ROPOS |
| EPR, 23 30'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -23.5333 | -115.5667 | 2600 | 1987 or earlier [need to check Marchig & Gundlach (1987)]; 2005 submersible Alvin |
| Sasquatch Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 47.9969 | -129.0662 | 2200 | 2000 submersible Alvin |
| Middle Valley, Bent Hill Massive Sulfide | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 48.4341 | -128.6812 | 2440 | 1990 HOV Alvin, 1985 deposits only |
| S AMAR 2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 35.9670 | -34.1830 | 2240 | 1992 plume only; 1994 plume only |
| Axial Seamount, International District | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 45.9266 | -129.9795 | 1544 | 1986 submersible Pisces IV |
| EPR, 9 30'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.5167 | -104.2414 | 2580 | 1989 Argo I towed video |
| Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, 60 S segment | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Pacific-Antarctic Ridge | -60.0000 | -152.0000 | 2300 | 2009 plume only |
| Galapagos Rift, 94.7 W | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 2.6000 | -94.7750 | 2690 | 2005 plume only |
| West Valley | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 48.4833 | -129.0417 | 3000 | 1987 and 1988 deposits only (towed camera did not confirm activity) |
| North Cleft, low temperature | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 44.8833 | -130.2667 | 2250 | 1987-1989 camera/CTD tows |
| Carlsberg Ridge, 63 40'E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Carlsberg Ridge | 3.7000 | 63.6666 | 3500 | 2007 plume only |
| EPR, 10 08'N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.1300 | -104.3300 | 2580 | 1983 towed camera and temperature measurements (no direct observations/sampling of hydrothermal fluid) |
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -10.6600 | 66.5000 | 3500 | 2010 plume only |
| Gakkel Ridge, Site 5 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 86.3500 | 37.0000 | 3600 | 2001 plume only |