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 Longitudesort descending Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
Tonga Arc, Volcano J1 active, inferred arc volcano Tonga Arc -17.2400 -173.9500 560 2004 plume only
Mata Fa active, inferred arc volcano Lau Basin -14.9833 -173.8000 2600 2010 plume only
Mata Tolu active, confirmed arc volcano Lau Basin -15.0049 -173.7936 1900 2010 towed camera; 2009 plume and dredge only
Mata Ono active, inferred arc volcano Lau Basin -14.9333 -173.7916 2600 2010 plume only
Mata Fitu active, confirmed arc volcano Lau Basin -14.9166 -173.7833 2750 2010 towed camera
Mata Nima inactive arc volcano Lau Basin -14.9583 -173.7833 2670 2010 no plume detected
Mata Ua active, confirmed arc volcano Lau Basin -15.0166 -173.7833 2397 2012 ROV Quest 4000; 2010 plume only (towed camera did not confirm)
Mata Taha active, inferred arc volcano Lau Basin -15.0416 -173.7833 2160 2010 plume only
West Mata submarine volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Tonga Arc -15.0950 -173.7500 1208 2009 ROV Jason II; 2008 eruption plume detected
East Mata submarine volcano active, inferred arc volcano Tonga Arc -15.1010 -173.6780 1350 2008 plume only; 2009 plume only
Niua South active, confirmed arc volcano Tonga Arc -15.1650 -173.5700 1180 2008 commercial ROV
Niua North active, confirmed arc volcano Tonga Arc -15.0667 -173.5667 1375 2012 ROV Quest 4000; 2008 plume only
Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, 64 S segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Pacific-Antarctic Ridge -64.5000 -170.0000 2300 2009 plume only
Kagamil Island active, confirmed arc volcano Aleutian Arc, western 52.9800 -169.7200 5 2007 SCUBA
Vailulu'u Seamount active, confirmed intra-plate volcano Central Pacific -14.2167 -169.0667 1000 2005 submersible Pisces V; 2000 plume only
Hawaiian Ridge inactive intra-plate volcano Central Pacific 15.0000 -157.5000 5000 1987 or earlier
Loihi Seamount active, confirmed intra-plate volcano Central Pacific 18.9500 -155.2500 4800 1985 bottom photography R/V Hakuho Maru; 1987 submersible Alvin
Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, 60 S segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Pacific-Antarctic Ridge -60.0000 -152.0000 2300 2009 plume only
Teahitia seamount active, confirmed intra-plate volcano Central Pacific -17.5670 -148.8167 1460 1983 submersible Cyana
Macdonald Seamount active, confirmed intra-plate volcano Central Pacific -28.9833 -140.2500 150 1989 submersible Cyana
Dellwood Seamount inactive mid-ocean ridge Explorer Ridge 50.7470 -130.8961 800 1974 or earlier deposits only; 2018 ROV Hercules inactive
Brown Bear Seamount inactive mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 46.0333 -130.5500 1500 NotProvided
South Cleft active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 44.6667 -130.3667 2250 1981 deep-tow photographs; 1984 submersible Alvin
Central Cleft, off-axis active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 44.7583 -130.2750 2200 2000 ROV Tiburon
Magic Mountain, 3-km south active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Explorer Ridge 49.7250 -130.2667 1850 2002 AUV ABE plume only
North Cleft, low temperature active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 44.8833 -130.2667 2250 1987-1989 camera/CTD tows
Magic Mountain active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Explorer Ridge 49.7500 -130.2667 1850 1984 submersible Pisces IV
North Cleft, high temperature active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 44.9800 -130.2000 2300 1987 camera/CTD tows discovered low-temperature vents; 1988 submersible Alvin sampled low-temperature vents; 1990 submersible Alvin discovered black smoker
Axial Seamount, CASM active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 45.9892 -130.0272 1580 1983 submersible Pisces IV
Axial Seamount, ASHES active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 45.9333 -130.0140 1540 1984 submersible Alvin

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