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
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
Daikoku volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 21.3240 144.1940 450 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only
El Hierro, Tagoro active, confirmed intra-plate volcano 27.6200 -17.9900 350 2016 submersible JAGO, 2017 ROV Liropus 2000, 2011 water column sampling
White Island active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Taupo Volcanic Zone -37.5191 177.1953 30 1989 or earlier, likely SCUBA
Irinovskoye active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 13.3327 -44.9099 3000 2013 ROV Victor6000; 2007 dredge only; 2009 or 2011 did not confirm
ESR, E2 active, confirmed back-arc spreading center East Scotia Ridge -56.0917 -30.3250 2641 2009 towed video; 1999 plume only; 2010 ROV Isis
EPR, 18 10'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -18.1700 -113.3440 2700 1993 submersible Nautile; 1983 temperature and light attenuation anomalies
Espalamaca active, confirmed intra-plate volcano 38.5500 -28.6000 50 2010 or earlier likely SCUBA
Montserrat Offshore Springs active, confirmed arc volcano Lesser Antilles Arc 16.7100 -62.2300 10 1996 or earlier (assume SCUBA)
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
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
Capo Palinuro active, confirmed other Coastal Italy 40.0167 15.2667 30 1990 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Hook Ridge active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Bransfield Strait -62.1940 -57.2745 1080 1997 hot sediment; 1995 plume only; 1999 even hotter sediment
EPR, 11 17'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 11.2833 -103.7583 2560 1984 Angus camera (or 1985 Argo video) tow with temperature
High-Rise Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 47.9666 -129.0894 2200 1988 submersible Alvin
Pulau Weh active, confirmed arc volcano Banda/Sunda Arc 5.8166 95.3000 8 1982 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Logatchev-2 active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 14.7200 -44.9380 2760 2007 ROV VICTOR 6000; 1993-1994 TV grab and towed photo system did not confirm activity; 1996-1998 video imaging and sampling did not confirm activity
Wright volcanic center active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -31.8500 -179.1880 1165 2005 submersible PISCES V; 2004 plume NZAPLUME III cruise
Dorado Outcrop active, confirmed other 9.0800 -87.0950 3000 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751
Middle Valley, Bent Hill Massive Sulfide active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 48.4341 -128.6812 2440 1990 HOV Alvin, 1985 deposits only
Pika active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 12.9183 143.6483 2990 2003 submersible Shinkai 6500; 2003 plume only
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
Macauley Caldera active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -30.2140 -178.7210 500 2002 towed camera TAN0205 cruise
Niua North active, confirmed arc volcano Tonga Arc -15.0667 -173.5667 1375 2012 ROV Quest 4000; 2008 plume only
Kulo Lasi active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -14.9200 -177.2500 1478 2010 submersible Nautile
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
Soria Moria active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Mohns Ridge 71.2593 -5.8146 750 2005 ROV BIODEEP-05 cruise
Solitaire Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge CIR -19.5450 65.8500 2630 2009 submersible Shinkai 6500; 2006 plume only
Beebe active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Mid-Cayman Rise 18.5466 -81.7182 4957 2010 AUV Autosub6000 and HyBIS TVG; 2009 plume only

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