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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N-ELSC, plume 26 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.8200 | -176.0420 | 2600 | 2004 plume only |
| N-ELSC, plume 25 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.8900 | -176.0640 | 2680 | 2004 plume only |
| EPR, 20 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.0333 | -113.6843 | 3000 | 1999 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity |
| Kilo Moana | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.0532 | -176.1336 | 2620 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| EPR, 20 06'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.1000 | -113.7080 | 3000 | 1981 Angus camera tow; 1984 submersible Cyana |
| Tonga Arc, Volcano C | active, inferred | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -20.1800 | -175.2000 | 1050 | 2004 SS11/2004 cruise did not detect hydrothermal activity |
| Tow Cam | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.3169 | -176.1367 | 2700 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| EPR, Ridge 3, 20 40'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.3333 | -113.6792 | 3050 | 1983 Deep Tow camera |
| N-ELSC, plume 22 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.4000 | -176.1580 | 2700 | 2004 plume only |
| Tahi Moana 1 | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.6900 | -176.1800 | 2256 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2004 plume only |
| ABE | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.7619 | -176.1910 | 2220 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| EPR, Ridge 1, 20 40'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.8333 | -114.1667 | 3000 | 1983 Deep Tow camera |
| Tonga Arc, Volcano A | active, inferred | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -20.8600 | -175.5500 | 700 | 2004 plume only |
| C-ELSC, plume 19 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.8700 | -176.2170 | 2230 | 2004 plume only |
| C-ELSC, plume 18 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.9500 | -176.2390 | 2230 | 2004 plume only |
| Gemini-Oscostar Volcanic Complex | active, inferred | arc volcano | New Hebrides Arc | -20.9830 | 170.2830 | 100 | 2001 deposits and plume; 2004 plume and sulfide samples |
| C-ELSC, plume 17 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.9900 | -176.2530 | 2270 | 2004 plume only |
| C-ELSC, unnamed | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.1070 | -176.2920 | 2300 | 2004 (assume submersible Shinkai 6500); 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| Tonga Arc, Volcano 1 | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -21.1500 | -175.7500 | 210 | 2005 with submersibles PISCES IV and PISCES V and ROV RCV-150; 2003 plume and dredge only |
| ELSC3 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.1667 | -176.3333 | 2140 | 2009 plume only |
| C-ELSC, plume 15 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.2700 | -176.3470 | 2230 | 2004 plume only |
| C-ELSC, plume 14 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.3200 | -176.3640 | 2100 | 2004 plume only |
| EPR, 21 20'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.3670 | -114.2570 | 2900 | 1981 plume only; 1987-1988 deposits only |
| Area EX/FX | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -21.4000 | 68.7666 | 3300 | 1986 plume and sediments |
| C-ELSC, plume 13 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.4150 | -176.3720 | 2100 | 2004 plume only |
| EPR, 21 25'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.4333 | -114.2917 | 2850 | 1984 submersible Cyana; 1983 deposits only |
| Rapa Nui | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.5620 | -114.3000 | 2845 | 1999 submersible Alvin; 1987-1988 deposits only |
| EPR, 21 40'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.6340 | -114.3010 | 2730 | 1987-1988 deposits only |
| VFR, plume 12 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.7300 | -176.4530 | 1910 | 2004 plume only |
| EPR, 21 54'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.9000 | -114.5000 | 2800 | 1987-1988 deposits only [need to check Fouquet et al. (1993) for confirmation] |