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
Bayonnaise Knoll caldera	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Izu-Bonin back-arc	31.9667	139.7333	900	2003 temperature anomalies, but camera survey observed inactive vent deposits
Mariana Trough, Central Trough	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	18.0467	144.7533	3676	1987 submersible Alvin
Okinawa Trough, Site ES1	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	30.3303	129.0827	521	1992 dredge only
White Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Taupo Volcanic Zone	-37.5191	177.1953	30	1989 or earlier, likely SCUBA
Lobster	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.3330	-176.2830	1500	2008 plume and dredge only
C-ELSC, plume 18	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-20.9500	-176.2390	2230	2004 plume only
Pere Lachaise	inactive	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-16.9667	173.9333	2000	1989 submersible Nautile did not find activity; 1991 submersible Shinkai 6500 did not find activity
Snail	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Mariana Trough	12.9533	143.6200	2880	2003 ROV Jason II; 2003 plume only
Tarama Knoll	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	25.0916	124.5416	1990	2009 ROV HyperDolphin
FRSC, 11a-3	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-16.7950	-174.5230	2000	2008 plume only
Dugong submarine volcano	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.4500	-175.7000	1170	2008 plume only
SuSu Knolls	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.8000	152.1000	1520	1996 towed camera/video; 1993 plume only
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
Kulo Lasi	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-14.9200	-177.2500	1478	2010 submersible Nautile
MTJ, PAPATUA	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.3850	-174.6430	2170	1986 PAPATUA Expedition deposits only; 2008 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
Okinawa Trough, Site ES2	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	28.8137	128.1028	779	1992 dredge only
NWLSC, Southern Caldera	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.9000	-177.4166	2160	2008 plume only
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
N-ELSC, plume 25	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-19.8900	-176.0640	2680	2004 plume only
Philippine Ridge, West Philippine Basin	inactive	back-arc spreading center	West Philippine Basin	12.0000	131.4170	5800	NotProvided
western Manus Basin, Bismarck Sea	inactive	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.0000	147.0000	1800	NotProvided
Sonne 99	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-16.9500	173.9167	1980	1995 deep tow video and TV-grab
FRSC, T12A-01	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-17.7850	-174.5260	500	2012 plume only
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
Kueishan Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	24.8333	121.9500	30	1999, likely by SCUBA
N-ELSC, plume 26	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-19.8200	-176.0420	2600	2004 plume only
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
Deception Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Bransfield Strait	-62.9500	-60.6500	100	1995 or earlier intertidal
Whale Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Taupo Volcanic Zone	-37.8600	176.9800	42	1990 or earlier, likely by SCUBA

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