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
Mariana Trough, 15.5 N	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	15.4080	144.5090	4196	2015 plume only, 2016 ROV did not confirm
Sakai	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	27.5481	126.9895	1600	1988 submersible Shinkai 2000; 1987 plume only
western Manus Basin, Bismarck Sea	inactive	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.0000	147.0000	1800	NotProvided
Si'iSi'i	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-22.2900	-176.6290	1950	2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only
Tu'i Malila	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-21.9876	-176.5678	1870	2005 ROV Jason II; 2004 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)
NWLSC, Southern Caldera	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.9000	-177.4166	2160	2008 plume only
Calypso Vents	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Taupo Volcanic Zone	-37.6800	177.1170	200	1989 submersible Soucoup
PACMANUS field	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.7250	151.6700	1800	1991 deep-tow camera and video; 1995 submersible Shinkai 6500
Vienna Woods, Hydrothermal Field 4	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.3712	150.0360	2240	1990 TV-grab
Solwara 18	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.0760	147.2390	1308	2008 plumes with some sites subsequently observed with ROV; 2009 commercial ROV Fugro FV300 (activity not confirmed)
N-ELSC, plume 29	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-19.6000	-175.9750	2700	2004 plume only
Tarama Knoll	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	25.0916	124.5416	1990	2009 ROV HyperDolphin
C-ELSC, plume 14	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-21.3200	-176.3640	2100	2004 plume only
CLSC, southern plumes on CL6	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-18.5000	-176.3833	2250	2009 plume only
Mariana Trough, 16.5 N	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	16.4010	144.8700	3829	2015 plume only
Izena Cauldron	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	27.2667	127.0833	1610	1988 submersible Shinkai 2000
Whale Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Taupo Volcanic Zone	-37.8600	176.9800	42	1990 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Kulo Lasi	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-14.9200	-177.2500	1478	2010 submersible Nautile
Snail	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	12.9533	143.6200	2880	2003 ROV Jason II; 2003 plume only
North Knoll, Iheya Ridge	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	27.7908	126.8966	1100	1995 deep tow survey
Three Sisters, Middle Sister	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Bransfield Strait	-62.6420	-58.9833	1040	1995 plume only; 1999 still had no visual confirmation
Solwara 19	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.6660	148.7640	1039	2009 commercial ROV Fugro FV300 (activity not confirmed)
Mariana Mounds	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	18.0333	144.2833	3600	1987 submersible Alvin
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
Higa	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	26.5550	126.2233	1485	2015 ROV Kaiko
C-ELSC, plume 15	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-21.2700	-176.3470	2230	2004 plume only
Sumisu Rift	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Izu-Bonin back-arc	31.1000	139.8917	1600	1987 submersible Alvin inactive chimneys only
Loihi Seamount	active, confirmed	intra-plate volcano	Central Pacific	18.9500	-155.2500	4800	1985 bottom photography R/V Hakuho Maru; 1987 submersible Alvin
Vailulu'u Seamount	active, confirmed	intra-plate volcano	Central Pacific	-14.2167	-169.0667	1000	2005 submersible Pisces V; 2000 plume only

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