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
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
FRSC, 11a-3	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-16.7950	-174.5230	2000	2008 plume only
Alice Springs Field	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	18.2103	144.7073	3640	1987 submersible Alvin; 1982 plume only
Tahi Moana 1	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-20.6900	-176.1800	2256	2008 commercial ROV; 2004 plume only
Vai Lili	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-22.2151	-176.6083	1764	1989 submersible Nautile
Snail	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	12.9533	143.6200	2880	2003 ROV Jason II; 2003 plume only
CLSC, A3	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-18.6000	-176.4500	2500	1990 submersible Mir
Little Volcano	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Bransfield Strait	-62.7500	-59.2500	1500	1995 plume only
Lobster	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.3330	-176.2830	1500	2008 plume and dredge only
FRSC, Fonualei South	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-17.5352	-174.5668	1620	2012 ROV Quest 4000
N-ELSC, plume 22	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-20.4000	-176.1580	2700	2004 plume only
White Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Taupo Volcanic Zone	-37.5191	177.1953	30	1989 or earlier, likely SCUBA
White Church	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-21.9612	-176.5234	1960	1989 submersible Nautile; 2004 plume survey
Starfish Seamount, Tinakula	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	New Hebrides back-arc	-12.2028	167.6139	1204	2011 commercial ROV; 1989 plume only; 1989 towed camera survey did not confirm activity; 2002 plume and dredge only
FRSC, T12A-01	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-17.7850	-174.5260	500	2012 plume only
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)
central Manus Basin, Bismarck Sea	inactive	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.4199	150.1681	2500	NotProvided
Sonne 99	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-16.9500	173.9167	1980	1995 deep tow video and TV-grab
CLSC, CL_7	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-18.1333	-176.3667	2250	2009 plume only
Niuatahi	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.3790	-174.0196	1635	2009 ROV Jason II; 2003 plume only; 2004 dredging (SS11/2004 cruise); 2005 plume only; 2008 commercial ROV (report does not confirm activity)
NWLSC, Southern Caldera	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.9000	-177.4166	2160	2008 plume only
White Lady	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-16.9833	173.9167	2000	1988 towed camera and plume; 1989 submersible Nautile
Parece Vela Ridge, Philippine Sea	inactive	back-arc spreading center	Parece Vela Basin	16.0000	139.1667	5000	NotProvided
Station 58, N160 Axis	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-16.3167	173.5500	3900	1985 plume only; 1991 temperature anomalies but submersible Shinkai 6500 did not confirm activity
Tahi Moana 7	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.3300	-174.2500	1940	2004 plume only; 2008 plume only; 2009 video camera tow (activity not confirmed)
east of Central Spreading Ridge	inactive	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-15.4510	174.6902	3000	NotProvided
Central Spreading Ridge, Station 19 S	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-19.0000	173.5000	3000	1991 submersible Shinkai 6500 did not confirm activity
N-ELSC, plume 25	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-19.8900	-176.0640	2680	2004 plume only
Yokosuka	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	25.2638	124.3733	2190	2016 ROV Kaiko; 2014 plume only
CLSC, CL_8	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-18.0500	-176.3333	2250	2009 plume only

Search form

Pages