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 Activitysort descending Tectonic Setting Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
Semyenov-2 active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 13.5137 -44.9630 2440 2009 TV grab and photo-TV profiling; 2007 deposits only
Kemp Caldera active, confirmed arc volcano South Sandwich Arc -59.7000 -28.3166 1420 2010 ROV Isis; 2009 plume only
Northwest Eifuku active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 21.4850 144.0430 1604 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only
Nagahama Bay, Iwo-dake Volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Ryukyu Arc 30.7500 130.3330 26 1994 or earlier intertidal; 2008 or earlier SCUBA subtidal
Mussel Valley active, confirmed back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -18.8167 173.4833 2700 1989 submersible Nautile; 1987 plume; 1988 towed camera did not confirm activity
Chamorro volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 20.8100 144.7050 896 2016 ROV Deep Discoverer; 2003 plume only
Floc active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 46.3133 -129.7050 2290 1993 DEEPTOW and submersible Alvin
Izena Cauldron active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Okinawa Trough 27.2667 127.0833 1610 1988 submersible Shinkai 2000
Kulo Lasi active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -14.9200 -177.2500 1478 2010 submersible Nautile
Alarcon Rise, Tzab-ek active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 23.3526 -108.5597 2249 2015 ROV Doc Ricketts
EPR, 23 50'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -23.8233 -115.4558 2650 2005 submersible Alvin; 1990 or earlier towed TV camera did not confirm activity
High-Rise Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 47.9666 -129.0894 2200 1988 submersible Alvin
Esmeralda Bank active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 14.9667 145.2500 323 1990 towed video and TV-grab; 1978 hydrothermal deposits only
Nifonea Ridge active, confirmed back-arc spreading center New Hebrides back-arc -18.1330 169.5170 1900 2001 towed video; 2013 ROV Kiel 6000 black smokers
Tafu active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -15.3833 -174.2500 1400 2008 or 2009 commercial ROV; 2008 plume only; 2009 ROV Jason II
Daisan-Kume Knoll active, confirmed arc volcano Ryukyu Arc 26.3020 126.4125 1370 2015 ROV Kaiko; 2014 ROV Hyper Dolphin 3000 Dive 1761 may have confirmed; 2014 AUV temperature anomaly
Kawio Barat active, confirmed arc volcano Sangihe Arc 4.8133 125.0816 1890 2003 towed video, CTD/transmissometer, and dredge
AHA Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 1.7333 -102.2830 2850 2000 towed imaging ARGO-II
TAG active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 26.1367 -44.8267 3670 1985 towed camera and temperature anomaly; 1986 submersible Alvin
Aurora active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 82.8833 -6.2500 4100 2001 shimmering water in camera tow and sulfide chimney in dredge
Don Joao de Castro Bank active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Terceira Rift 38.2300 -26.6300 45 1995 SCUBA
White Church active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -21.9612 -176.5234 1960 1989 submersible Nautile; 2004 plume survey
EPR, 3.9 N offset active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 3.9170 -102.2330 2875 1989 or earlier Deep Tow photographs (cruise RIFTS or PAPATUA)
Seamount X active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 13.2500 144.0200 1450 1994 or earlier submersible Shinkai 6500
Bahia Concepcion active, confirmed other Coastal Baja California 26.6667 -111.8333 15 1968 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Magic Mountain active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Explorer Ridge 49.7500 -130.2667 1850 1984 submersible Pisces IV
Lilliput active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S MAR -9.5500 -13.1800 1500 2005 ROV Quest
Zouyu ridge active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S MAR -13.2800 -14.4100 2315 2009 towed video
EPR, 9 50'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 9.8300 -104.2900 2520 1989 Argo I towed video
Ribeira Quente active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Terceira Rift 37.7250 -25.3160 10 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA

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