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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPR, 1.4 S, off-axis | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -1.3690 | -102.4560 | 3000 | 2008 towed video |
| EPR, 23 50'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -23.8233 | -115.4558 | 2650 | 2005 submersible Alvin; 1990 or earlier towed TV camera did not confirm activity |
| Isafjardardjup bay | active, confirmed | 66.0500 | -22.6500 | 3 | 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA | ||
| Eyjafjördur | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Kolbeinsey Ridge | 65.8500 | -18.1333 | 65 | 1997, likely by SCUBA |
| EPR, 13 N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 12.8333 | -103.9500 | 2630 | 1982 submersible Cyana; 1981 towed camera, dredging, and plume did not confirm activity |
| Misiteli | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.4700 | -176.7030 | 2050 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only |
| EPR, 17 44'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -17.7330 | -113.2660 | 2622 | 1998 submersible Alvin; 1993 plume only; not explored by Nautile in 1993 or Shinkai 6500 in 1994 |
| Solitaire Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -19.5450 | 65.8500 | 2630 | 2009 submersible Shinkai 6500; 2006 plume only |
| Nagahama Bay, Iwo-dake Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Ryukyu Arc | 30.7500 | 130.3330 | 26 | 1994 or earlier intertidal; 2008 or earlier SCUBA subtidal |
| White Lady | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | North Fiji Basin | -16.9833 | 173.9167 | 2000 | 1988 towed camera and plume; 1989 submersible Nautile |
| Central Cleft, off-axis | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 44.7583 | -130.2750 | 2200 | 2000 ROV Tiburon |
| EPR, 9 47'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.7750 | -104.2802 | 2560 | 1989 Argo I towed video; 1991 submersible Alvin |
| Banua Wuhu submarine volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Sangihe Arc | 3.1380 | 125.4910 | 10 | 1996 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Myojin Knoll | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Izu-Bonin Arc | 32.1033 | 139.8683 | 1360 | 1996 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| EPR, 20 06'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.1000 | -113.7080 | 3000 | 1981 Angus camera tow; 1984 submersible Cyana |
| Jaco Scar | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Costa Rica fore arc | 9.1175 | -84.8397 | 1790 | 2009 submersible Alvin |
| Solwara 13 | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Manus Basin | -3.7320 | 151.7465 | 2000 | 2009 commercial ROV Fugro FV300; 1993 plume only |
| Tafu | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.3833 | -174.2500 | 1400 | 2008 or 2009 commercial ROV; 2008 plume only; 2009 ROV Jason 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 |
| Tonga Arc, Volcano 18 | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -24.5850 | -176.9170 | 1465 | 2011 ROV MAGNUM; 2003 plume and dredge only |
| Lilliput | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -9.5500 | -13.1800 | 1500 | 2005 ROV Quest |
| Saguaro Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -31.8500 | -112.0333 | 2330 | 1999 submersible Alvin; 1998 plume only |
| EPR, 3.9 N offset | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 3.9170 | -102.2330 | 2875 | 1989 or earlier Deep Tow photographs (cruise RIFTS or PAPATUA) |
| Healy volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -34.9840 | 178.9990 | 1370 | 2005 submersible Pisces V; 1999 plume only |
| Piip Submarine Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Aleutian Arc, western | 55.4167 | 167.2717 | 500 | 1990 Mir submersible; 1981 R/V "Vulcanolog" cruise; 1987 (or 1986) echo-sounder fluid discharge |
| Dorado Outcrop | active, confirmed | other | 9.0800 | -87.0950 | 3000 | 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751 | |
| Ribeira Quente | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Terceira Rift | 37.7250 | -25.3160 | 10 | 1986 or earlier, likely from shore or by SCUBA |
| Chamorro volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 20.8100 | 144.7050 | 896 | 2016 ROV Deep Discoverer; 2003 plume only |
| Taketomi Thermal Area | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Ryukyu Arc | 24.3483 | 124.1017 | 23 | 1987 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Esmeralda Bank | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 14.9667 | 145.2500 | 323 | 1990 towed video and TV-grab; 1978 hydrothermal deposits only |