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
Kairei Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge CIR -25.3195 70.0400 2460 2000 ROV Kaiko; 1993 plume only
Longqi active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.7838 49.6494 2785 2007 towed video sled followed by AUV ABE; 2005 plume only
Banda Api active, confirmed arc volcano Banda/Sunda Arc -4.5250 129.8710 3 1993 SCUBA
Nikko volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 23.0833 142.3333 600 1992 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1979 first observed discolored water above the seamount
Wright volcanic center active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -31.8500 -179.1880 1165 2005 submersible PISCES V; 2004 plume NZAPLUME III cruise
EPR, 37 40'S Axial Dome active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Pacific-Antarctic Ridge -37.6667 -110.8667 2240 1997 video survey L'Atalante (do not know if activity confirmed); 1995 TV survey did not confirm activity; 2001 towed video and TV-grab definitely confirmed
Rapa Nui active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -21.5620 -114.3000 2845 1999 submersible Alvin; 1987-1988 deposits only
Piip Submarine Volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Aleutian Arc, western 55.4167 167.2717 500 1990 Mir submersible; 1981 R/V "Vulcanolog" cruise; 1987 (or 1986) echo-sounder fluid discharge
Yali active, confirmed arc volcano Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea 36.6600 27.1300 3 1991 or earlier, from beach
Tahi Moana 2 active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -21.9200 -176.5330 1870 1989 submersible Nautile (need reference to check if activity confirmed); 2004 plume only; 2008 commercial ROV (report does not confirm activity)
Galapagos Mounds active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 1.4500 -86.1665 2700 1977 submersible Alvin
Vailulu'u Seamount active, confirmed intra-plate volcano Central Pacific -14.2167 -169.0667 1000 2005 submersible Pisces V; 2000 plume only
Ashadze-1 active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 12.9733 -44.8633 4200 2003 TV profiling; 2007 ROV Victor 6000
Sonne 99 active, confirmed back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -16.9500 173.9167 1980 1995 deep tow video and TV-grab
EPR, 10 02'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 10.0330 -104.3300 2560 1992 submersible Alvin
Snake Pit active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 23.3683 -44.9500 3500 1985 real-time TV and imaging sonar; earlier in 1985 seafloor photographs did not confirm activity
Rumble V volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -36.1333 178.1833 755 2001 towed camera; 1999 plume and dredged mussel shells
EPR, 17 12'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -17.2000 -113.1500 2590 1993 submersible Nautile
El Hierro, Tagoro active, confirmed intra-plate volcano 27.6200 -17.9900 350 2016 submersible JAGO, 2017 ROV Liropus 2000, 2011 water column sampling
Mata Fitu active, confirmed arc volcano Lau Basin -14.9166 -173.7833 2750 2010 towed camera
EPR, Ridge 3, 20 40'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -20.3333 -113.6792 3050 1983 Deep Tow camera
Mokuyo Seamount active, confirmed arc volcano Izu-Bonin Arc 28.3200 140.5800 1200 1990 submersible Shinkai 2000
Espalamaca active, confirmed intra-plate volcano 38.5500 -28.6000 50 2010 or earlier likely SCUBA
EPR, 18 32'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -18.5550 -113.4160 2647 1993 submersible Nautile
Marsili active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Tyrrhenian Back-Arc Basin, Tyrrhenian Sea 39.2600 14.3780 800 2006 ROV Cherokee; 1989 shimmering water but did not confirm activity
Deception Island active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Bransfield Strait -62.9500 -60.6500 100 1995 or earlier intertidal
West Mata submarine volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Tonga Arc -15.0950 -173.7500 1208 2009 ROV Jason II; 2008 eruption plume detected
Kueishan Island, offshore active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Okinawa Trough 24.8333 122.0000 1200 2008 or earlier
Dorado Outcrop active, confirmed other 9.0800 -87.0950 3000 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751
FRSC, Fonualei South active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -17.5352 -174.5668 1620 2012 ROV Quest 4000

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