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 ascending Tectonic Setting Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
Gorda Ridge, EP96A active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gorda Ridge 42.6790 -126.7820 3150 1996 camera/temperature tow followed by ROV did not confirm hydrothermal activity
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 4, 11.3 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -11.3000 66.4000 3500 2010 plume only
Wagner Basin active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 31.0666 -114.0833 120 2007 echosounder and grab samples
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 6, 14.75 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -14.7500 66.5000 3400 2010 plume only
Red Sea Rift, 18 N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Red Sea 17.9667 40.0667 1500 1980 submersible Pisces XI (deposits only)
Knipovich Ridge, 77 40'N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Knipovich Ridge 77.6300 7.5800 3000 2000 plume only
VFR, plume 3 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -22.4000 -176.6790 1980 2004 plume only
SWIR, D36 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -52.7490 11.7110 3981 2000-2001 plume and dredge only
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -8.2500 68.2000 3600 2010 plume only
SEIR-WXC15 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -50.2500 135.3000 3000 2015 plume only
Suakin Deep active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Red Sea 19.6333 38.7333 2850 1972 deposits only
Mariana Trough, 16.5 N active, inferred back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 16.4010 144.8700 3829 2015 plume only
Woodlark Basin, Segment 3B active, inferred back-arc spreading center Woodlark Basin -9.8000 155.0667 3300 2009 plume only
EPR, 28.7 S, Segment W4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -28.7000 -112.9880 2350 1998 plume only
S AMAR 1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 36.0830 -34.0830 2630 1992 plume only; 1994 plume only
FRSC, Central active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -16.4917 -174.5417 2419 2004 plume only
MAR, south of 15 20'N fracture zone active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 15.0833 -45.0000 3000 1988 plume only; 1992 submersible Nautile did not observe active vents
C-ELSC, plume 15 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -21.2700 -176.3470 2230 2004 plume only
SWIR, Plume 5 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -27.9170 64.4500 4000 1997 plume only
Chile Rise, Segment N9A active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Chile Rise -39.0500 -91.5833 3450 1998 plume only
EPR, 14 18'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -14.3000 -112.6670 2630 1993 plume only
Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, 64 S segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Pacific-Antarctic Ridge -64.5000 -170.0000 2300 2009 plume only
N-ELSC, plume 29 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -19.6000 -175.9750 2700 2004 plume only
EPR, 16 08'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -16.1300 -113.0000 2640 1993 plume only
Tonga Arc, Volcano 4 active, inferred arc volcano Tonga Arc -22.0670 -176.2080 200 2003 plume and dredge only
GEISEIR site 4, segment K1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.2025 81.0625 2800 2010 plume only
MTJ, T08C01 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -15.9629 -174.7961 2400 2008 plume only
Gakkel Ridge, Site 8 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 86.5333 69.0000 3500 2001 plume only
Bataan active, inferred arc volcano Luzon/Bicol Arc 20.0000 122.0000 2002 or earlier some indications of activity
Consag Basin active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 30.6333 -113.9083 140 2007 echosounder and grab samples

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