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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 82.8833 | -6.2500 | 4100 | 2001 shimmering water in camera tow and sulfide chimney in dredge |
| AHA Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 1.7333 | -102.2830 | 2850 | 2000 towed imaging ARGO-II |
| Nifonea Ridge | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | New Hebrides back-arc | -18.1330 | 169.5170 | 1900 | 2001 towed video; 2013 ROV Kiel 6000 black smokers |
| Seamount X | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 13.2500 | 144.0200 | 1450 | 1994 or earlier submersible Shinkai 6500 |
| Kawio Barat | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Sangihe Arc | 4.8133 | 125.0816 | 1890 | 2003 towed video, CTD/transmissometer, and dredge |
| Medusa | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.1404 | -104.2065 | 2580 | 2007 ROV Jason II; 1991 plume only |
| Panarea | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Aeolian Arc, Tyrrhenian Sea | 38.6583 | 15.1000 | 200 | 1800's shallow vents; 1995 deeper vents ROV Comex |
| Loihi Seamount | active, confirmed | intra-plate volcano | Central Pacific | 18.9500 | -155.2500 | 4800 | 1985 bottom photography R/V Hakuho Maru; 1987 submersible Alvin |
| Teahitia seamount | active, confirmed | intra-plate volcano | Central Pacific | -17.5670 | -148.8167 | 1460 | 1983 submersible Cyana |
| EPR, 9 50'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.8300 | -104.2900 | 2520 | 1989 Argo I towed video |
| Sangeang Island | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Banda/Sunda Arc | -8.1300 | 119.0900 | 2 | 1991 or earlier, from beach |
| Tiancheng | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -27.9670 | 63.5500 | 3600 | 2014 HOV Jiaolong; 1997 plume only; 2009 DY115-20 Leg 7 plume and deposits; |
| Bounty Seamount | active, confirmed | intra-plate volcano | Central Pacific | -25.1667 | -129.4000 | 420 | 1999 submersible Nautile; 1989 plume only |
| Misiteli | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.4700 | -176.7030 | 2050 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only |
| Suiyo Seamount | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Izu-Bonin Arc | 28.5750 | 140.6417 | 1380 | 1991 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| EPR, 21 N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 20.8333 | -109.0833 | 2600 | 1979 submersible Alvin; 1978 submersible Cyana discovered mineral deposits only |
| SPOT, Hatoma Knoll | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 24.8550 | 123.8410 | 1520 | 1999 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| Von Damm | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mid-Cayman Rise | 18.3777 | -81.7972 | 2372 | 2010 AUV Autosub6000 and HyBIS TVG; 2009 plume only |
| EPR, 18 26'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -18.4333 | -113.3833 | 2650 | 1993 submersible Nautile; 1983 seafloor photos, temperature anomalies, and deposits did not confirm activity; 1984 submersible Cyana observed only inactive sites; 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity) |
| Main Endeavour Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 47.9487 | -129.0981 | 2220 | 1984 submersible Alvin; 1982 dredge only |
| Luso | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 38.9833 | -29.8833 | 570 | 2018 ROV Luso |
| Natsushima 84-1 Knoll | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 27.5750 | 127.1417 | 1600 | 1986 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| ESR, E2 | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | East Scotia Ridge | -56.0917 | -30.3250 | 2641 | 2009 towed video; 1999 plume only; 2010 ROV Isis |
| Myojin Knoll | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Izu-Bonin Arc | 32.1033 | 139.8683 | 1360 | 1996 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| Jaco Scar | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Costa Rica fore arc | 9.1175 | -84.8397 | 1790 | 2009 submersible Alvin |
| Axial Seamount, ASHES | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 45.9333 | -130.0140 | 1540 | 1984 submersible Alvin |
| Northwest Eifuku | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 21.4850 | 144.0430 | 1604 | 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only |
| Aegir | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 72.3440 | 1.5550 | 2600 | 2015 ROV Ægir 6000; 2013 plume only; 2015 AUV |
| Nikko volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 23.0833 | 142.3333 | 600 | 1992 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1979 first observed discolored water above the seamount |
| EPR, 10 44.6'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.7433 | -103.6500 | 2580 | 1985 Argo video tow with temperature |