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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilo Moana | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.0532 | -176.1336 | 2620 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| Calypso Vents | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Taupo Volcanic Zone | -37.6800 | 177.1170 | 200 | 1989 submersible Soucoup |
| Hinepuia volcanic center | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -26.3900 | -177.2600 | 300 | 2013 HOV Shinkai 6500; 2004 plume and dredging NZAPLUME III expedition |
| EPR, 10 44.6'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.7433 | -103.6500 | 2580 | 1985 Argo video tow with temperature |
| EPR, 21 25'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.4333 | -114.2917 | 2850 | 1984 submersible Cyana; 1983 deposits only |
| Healy volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -34.9840 | 178.9990 | 1370 | 2005 submersible Pisces V; 1999 plume only |
| 13 N Ridge Site | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Mariana Trough | 13.0987 | 143.6886 | 3036 | 2000 deep-tow camera (later, same year - ROV Kaiko) |
| Minami-Ensei Knoll | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 28.3917 | 127.6417 | 740 | 1988 deep tow TV surveys followed by submersible Shinkai 2000; 1986 dredged Calyptogena shells |
| ABE | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.7619 | -176.1910 | 2220 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| Kairei Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -25.3195 | 70.0400 | 2460 | 2000 ROV Kaiko; 1993 plume only |
| Si'iSi'i | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.2900 | -176.6290 | 1950 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only |
| Ashadze-2 | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 12.9917 | -44.9067 | 3300 | 2007 ROV Victor 6000; 2005 TV profiling, plume, and dredge did not confirm activity |
| Loki's Castle | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 73.5500 | 8.1500 | 2400 | 2008 ROV Bathysaurus |
| Tarama Knoll | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 25.0916 | 124.5416 | 1990 | 2009 ROV HyperDolphin |
| 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 |
| Kemp Caldera | active, confirmed | arc volcano | South Sandwich Arc | -59.7000 | -28.3166 | 1420 | 2010 ROV Isis; 2009 plume only |
| Moytirra | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 45.4833 | -27.8500 | 2900 | 2011 ROV Holland 1; 2008 plume only MAPRs, ROV Isis buoyant plume, but no visual confirmation |
| EPR, 9 47'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.7750 | -104.2802 | 2560 | 1989 Argo I towed video; 1991 submersible Alvin |
| EPR, 7 25'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -7.4167 | -107.8000 | 2750 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity); 1998 submersible Alvin |
| SuSu Knolls | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Manus Basin | -3.8000 | 152.1000 | 1520 | 1996 towed camera/video; 1993 plume only |
| Pito Seamount | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -23.3275 | -111.6402 | 2270 | 1993 submersible Nautile |
| Nibelungen | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -8.3000 | -13.5200 | 2900 | 2006 AUV ABE followed by ROV Quest; 2004 plume only |
| Maka | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.4217 | -174.2850 | 1660 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2004 plume only; 2006 plume and chimney samples |
| Ribeira Quente | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Terceira Rift | 37.7250 | -25.3160 | 10 | 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA |
| Esmeralda Bank | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 14.9667 | 145.2500 | 323 | 1990 towed video and TV-grab; 1978 hydrothermal deposits only |
| Kueishan Island, offshore | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 24.8333 | 122.0000 | 1200 | 2008 or earlier |
| Higa | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 26.5550 | 126.2233 | 1485 | 2015 ROV Kaiko |
| Stanton Seamount | active, confirmed | arc volcano | New Hebrides Arc | -10.8670 | 166.7000 | 800 | 2002 towed video |
| Wright volcanic center | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -31.8500 | -179.1880 | 1165 | 2005 submersible PISCES V; 2004 plume NZAPLUME III cruise |
| Red Seamount | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 20.8033 | -109.3783 | 2000 | 1982 submersible Alvin |