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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -8.2500 | 68.2000 | 3600 | 2010 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 |
| New World Seamount | active, inferred | arc volcano | Tabar-Feni Arc | -2.8333 | 152.5333 | 1200 | 2000 or earlier (cruise FR04/00 implies that they already suspected hydrothermal activity); 1994 seamount discovered |
| Tonga Arc, Volcano 14 | active, inferred | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -23.5750 | -176.7050 | 985 | 2003 plume and dredge only |
| AAR KR2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -60.0000 | 152.5000 | 3200 | 2011 plume only |
| S Oceanographer | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 34.8670 | -36.4330 | 3460 | 1992 plume only |
| EPR, 28.7 S, Segment W4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -28.7000 | -112.9880 | 2350 | 1998 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) |
| EPR, 15 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -15.0000 | -112.7700 | 2640 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity); 1993 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 |
| GEISEIR site 13, segment L1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.0125 | 86.0608 | 2800 | 2010 plume only |
| Makhahnas | active, inferred | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 20.5300 | 144.8833 | 420 | 2003 no plume detected |
| SEIR-WXC27 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.4000 | 134.3000 | 2760 | 2015 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 10, segment K4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -42.4770 | 82.7100 | 2500 | 1996 plume only; 2010 plume only |
| EPR, southern 16 N segment | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 15.5000 | -105.4000 | 2300 | 1997 plume only |
| Haungaroa | active, inferred | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -32.6060 | -179.6090 | 1165 | 2002 plume only |
| Peggy Ridge | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -16.9233 | -176.8250 | 1900 | 1975 or earlier rock samples only; inactive in systematic survey on Arculus cruise SS07/2008 |
| Mohns Ridge, 72 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 72.0390 | -0.2520 | 2500 | 1987 plume only; 2013 plume only |
| MAR, south of 15 20'N fracture zone | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 15.0833 | -45.0000 | 3000 | 1988 plume only; 1992 submersible Nautile did not observe active vents |
| SWIR, 51.7 E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -37.4660 | 51.7320 | 1595 | 2008 plume and dredge only |
| GEISEIR site 29, segment M6 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -44.9054 | 94.9673 | 2700 | 2009 plume only |
| N-ELSC, plume 28 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.6500 | -175.9890 | 2550 | 2004 plume only |
| VFR, plume 3 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.4000 | -176.6790 | 1980 | 2004 plume only |
| Chile Triple Junction | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Chile Rise | -46.3000 | -75.8000 | 3000 | 2010 plume only |
| Reykjanes Ridge, Area A | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Reykjanes Ridge | 62.4500 | -25.4330 | 500 | NotProvided |
| EPR, 22 30'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -22.5000 | -114.3670 | 2600 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity) |
| Extensional Relay Zone A | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | North Fiji Basin | -16.1667 | 177.4167 | 2335 | 1999 towed camera did not confirm activity |
| Moytirra | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 45.4833 | -27.8500 | 2900 | 2011 ROV Holland 1; 2008 plume only MAPRs, ROV Isis buoyant plume, but no visual confirmation |
| EPR, 2 S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -2.2200 | -102.6550 | 2900 | 2008 towed video and AUV ABE |
| Sakai | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 27.5481 | 126.9895 | 1600 | 1988 submersible Shinkai 2000; 1987 plume only |