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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABE | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.7619 | -176.1910 | 2220 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| NWLSC, Central Caldera | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.8000 | -177.2666 | 2200 | 2008 plume and dredge only |
| FRSC, Central | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -16.4917 | -174.5417 | 2419 | 2004 plume only |
| C-ELSC, plume 18 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.9500 | -176.2390 | 2230 | 2004 plume only |
| NELSC, T08C12 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.2179 | -174.1788 | 2000 | 2008 plume only |
| Mata Fa | active, inferred | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -14.9833 | -173.8000 | 2600 | 2010 plume only |
| VFR, plume 12 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.7300 | -176.4530 | 1910 | 2004 plume only |
| Mariner | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.1800 | -176.6017 | 1910 | 2003 plume and camera tow; 2004 submersible Shinkai 6500 |
| NELSC, T08C09 and T08C18 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.4030 | -174.2630 | 1800 | 2008 plume only |
| FRSC, RC 129 and CTD 24 plume sites | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -17.0250 | -174.5017 | 1750 | 2004 plume only; 2004 dredging |
| Tow Cam | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.3169 | -176.1367 | 2700 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| VFR, plume 3 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.4000 | -176.6790 | 1980 | 2004 plume only |
| FRSC, 14b, 16.31 S | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -16.3110 | -174.5550 | 2380 | 2008 plume only |
| CLSC, southern plumes on CL6 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -18.5000 | -176.3833 | 2250 | 2009 plume only |
| FRSC, South Central | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -16.6667 | -174.5167 | 1820 | 2004 plume only; 2006 plume and chimney samples; 2009 camera tow and sampling (activity not confirmed) |
| 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 |
| MTJ, T08C05 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.5134 | -174.7407 | 2100 | 2008 plume only |
| Mata Taha | active, inferred | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -15.0416 | -173.7833 | 2160 | 2010 plume only |
| Kulo Lasi | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -14.9200 | -177.2500 | 1478 | 2010 submersible Nautile |
| 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) |
| VFR, plume 4 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.3400 | -176.6590 | 1700 | 2004 plume only |
| N-ELSC, plume 25 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.8900 | -176.0640 | 2680 | 2004 plume only |
| Misiteli | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.4700 | -176.7030 | 2050 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only |
| FRSC, 14b, 16.11 S | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -16.1150 | -174.5680 | 2250 | 2008 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) |
| Kraternaya Bight, Ushishir Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 47.5167 | 152.8000 | 60 | 1985 SCUBA |
| Hot Beach, Mendeleev Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 43.9760 | 145.7360 | 1 | 1990 or earlier, from the beach |
| Paramushir Island | inactive | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 50.3300 | 155.5000 | 800 | NotProvided |