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 Activitysort descending Tectonic Setting Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
Ribeira Quente active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Terceira Rift 37.7250 -25.3160 10 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA
Northwest Eifuku active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 21.4850 144.0430 1604 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only
EPR, 14 S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -13.9667 -112.4667 2635 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity); 1993 plume only; 1994 submersible Shinkai 6500
Guaymas Basin, Southern Trough active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 27.0148 -111.4109 2000 1982 submersible Alvin; 1980 DeepTow CTD and dredging
Alarcon Rise/Pescadero intersection active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 23.6423 -108.3948 2384 2015 ROV Doc Ricketts did not confirm activity
EPR, southern 16 N segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 15.5000 -105.4000 2300 1997 plume only
SEIR-WXC22 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -50.2500 132.1000 2950 2015 plume only
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 5, 12.25 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -12.2500 65.7000 4000 2010 plume only
EPR, 28.4 S, Segment W4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -28.4170 -112.9640 2350 1998 plume only
MAR, 8 10'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -8.1670 -13.4670 2000 2001 plume only
CLSC, southern plumes on CL6 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -18.5000 -176.3833 2250 2009 plume only
Tonga Arc, Volcano 14 active, inferred arc volcano Tonga Arc -23.5750 -176.7050 985 2003 plume and dredge only
GEISEIR site 12, segment K4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -42.6600 83.0366 2600 2010 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
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]
seamount, Tikopia area active, inferred arc volcano New Hebrides Arc -12.5433 167.7883 1425 1991 submersible Cyana
Kebrit Deep active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Red Sea 24.7233 36.2767 1590 1972 deposits only
EPR, 5 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -5.0000 -106.4000 2650 1980's camera tows; 1993 and 1998 plume only; 1998 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity
N-ELSC, plume 28 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -19.6500 -175.9890 2550 2004 plume only
Douglas Strait caldera, Thule Island, South Sandwich Islands active, inferred arc volcano South Sandwich Arc -59.4167 -27.3333 625 2009 plume only; 2008 or earlier high resolution bathymetry only
SWIR, D9B active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -52.7070 18.8170 3931 2000-2001 plume and dredge only
C-ELSC, plume 13 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -21.4150 -176.3720 2100 2004 plume only
MTJ, T08C05 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -15.5134 -174.7407 2100 2008 plume only
GEISEIR site 23, segment M2 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -42.0272 89.2205 2400 2009 plume only
VFR, ELSC7 active, inferred back-arc spreading center Lau Basin -22.8833 -176.7500 2050 2009 plume and dredge only
EPR, 15 24'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -15.4000 -112.8350 2640 1993 plume only
Haungaroa active, inferred arc volcano Kermadec Arc -32.6060 -179.6090 1165 2002 plume only
TaiJi active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -13.5900 -14.5200 3180 2011 plume only
Kuwae submarine caldera active, inferred arc volcano New Hebrides Arc -16.8300 168.5300 484 2001 plume and inconclusive grab samples
Gakkel Ridge, Site 6 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 86.5333 43.0000 3000 2001 plume only

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