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
Methana active, confirmed arc volcano Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea 37.6150 23.3360 10 nearshore: since antiquity; offshore: 1997 SCUBA
Teahitia seamount active, confirmed intra-plate volcano Central Pacific -17.5670 -148.8167 1460 1983 submersible Cyana
West Rota volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 14.3250 144.8330 1150 2005 ROV Hyper-Dolphin; 2003 plume only; 2004 ROV ROPOS did not observe venting
Loki's Castle active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Mohns Ridge 73.5500 8.1500 2400 2008 ROV Bathysaurus
Don Joao de Castro Bank active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Terceira Rift 38.2300 -26.6300 45 1995 SCUBA
Kos active, confirmed arc volcano Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea 36.8500 27.2500 10 1983 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Suiyo Seamount active, confirmed arc volcano Izu-Bonin Arc 28.5750 140.6417 1380 1991 submersible Shinkai 2000
Axial Seamount, CASM active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 45.9892 -130.0272 1580 1983 submersible Pisces IV
EPR, 2 S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -2.2200 -102.6550 2900 2008 towed video and AUV ABE
Alarcon Rise, Meyibo active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 23.3553 -108.5443 2295 2012 ROV Doc Ricketts
EPR, 9 17'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 9.2800 -104.2166 2585 1989 Argo I towed video
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)
Kilo Moana active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -20.0532 -176.1336 2620 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise
Montserrat Offshore Springs active, confirmed arc volcano Lesser Antilles Arc 16.7100 -62.2300 10 1996 or earlier (assume SCUBA)
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)
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
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
Guaymas Basin, Southern Trough active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 27.0148 -111.4109 2000 1982 submersible Alvin; 1980 DeepTow CTD and dredging
Brothers volcano active, confirmed arc volcano Kermadec Arc -34.8667 179.0667 1800 1998 towed camera; 1996 dredging only
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
Medusa active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 9.1404 -104.2065 2580 2007 ROV Jason II; 1991 plume only
Calypso Vents active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Taupo Volcanic Zone -37.6800 177.1170 200 1989 submersible Soucoup
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
Sea Cliff active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gorda Ridge 42.7550 -126.7083 2800 1988 submersible Sea Cliff; 1985 plume only; 1986 dredge and camera tow did not confirm activity
Dorado Outcrop active, confirmed other 9.0800 -87.0950 3000 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751
Panarea active, confirmed arc volcano Aeolian Arc, Tyrrhenian Sea 38.6583 15.1000 200 1800's shallow vents; 1995 deeper vents ROV Comex
Kairei Field active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge CIR -25.3195 70.0400 2460 2000 ROV Kaiko; 1993 plume only
Feather Duster active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 10.9267 -103.6767 2520 1984 towed camera and submersible Alvin
Middle Valley, Bent Hill Massive Sulfide active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 48.4341 -128.6812 2440 1990 HOV Alvin, 1985 deposits only
TELVE active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -22.1667 -176.6040 1760 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only

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