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, 9 17'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.2800 | -104.2166 | 2585 | 1989 Argo I towed video |
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 6, 14.75 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -14.7500 | 66.5000 | 3400 | 2010 plume only |
| Reykjanes Ridge, Area B | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Reykjanes Ridge | 59.8167 | -29.6833 | 1000 | 1992 submersible Mir did not find vents |
| Tempus Fugit | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 0.7683 | -85.9100 | 2560 | 2011 ROV Little Hercules |
| EPR, 30.4 S, Segment E2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -30.3750 | -111.7640 | 2320 | 1998 plume only |
| SWIR, Plume 3, Segment 16 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -30.8500 | 59.3830 | 3900 | 1997 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 38, segment O4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -48.0048 | 98.8232 | 2800 | 2009 plume only |
| Knipovich Ridge, 75 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Knipovich Ridge | 74.8000 | 8.4417 | 3185 | 2000 plume only |
| Explorer Deep | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Explorer Ridge | 50.1000 | -129.7500 | 3200 | 1969, deposits only |
| SEIR-WXC07 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 138.3000 | 2420 | 2015 plume only |
| EPR, 11 18'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -11.3000 | -110.5300 | 2650 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity); 1998 submersible Alvin |
| EPR, Seamount 5 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 13.0000 | -103.5000 | 1100 | 1988 or earlier camera and/or submersible (need to check reference) |
| Seven Sisters | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Kolbeinsey Ridge | 71.1500 | -12.7900 | 2200 | 2012 plume only; 2013 ROV Aglantha (may have confirmed); 2013 plume only |
| Lost City | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 30.1250 | -42.1183 | 800 | 2000 towed video ARGO-II and submersible Alvin |
| S-OH2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 34.0670 | -37.4830 | 3250 | 2000 or earlier plume only |
| Axial Seamount, International District | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 45.9266 | -129.9795 | 1544 | 1986 submersible Pisces IV |
| 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 |
| Split Seamount | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 47.6400 | -128.9667 | 2350 | 1990 camera tow (need reference to check if activity confirmed) |
| 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 |
| Ringvent | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gulf of California | 27.5083 | -111.6792 | 1740 | 2016 submersible Alvin; 2009 towed camera/CTD/bottles |
| Area JX | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -22.9666 | 69.1833 | 3500 | 1986 plume only (camera tow did not confirm) |
| Brown Bear Seamount | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 46.0333 | -130.5500 | 1500 | NotProvided |
| Edmond Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -23.8780 | 69.5960 | 3320 | 2001 ROV Jason |
| Gorda Ridge, EP96A | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 42.6790 | -126.7820 | 3150 | 1996 camera/temperature tow followed by ROV did not confirm hydrothermal activity |
| EPR, 27.7 S, Segment W3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -27.7000 | -112.9170 | 2105 | 1998 plume only |
| W Los Huellos Caldera | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.0000 | -90.6000 | 1600 | 2005 plume only |
| SWIR, D20 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -53.0200 | 22.1880 | 4170 | 2000-2001 plume and dredge only |
| EPR, 20 06'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -20.1000 | -113.7080 | 3000 | 1981 Angus camera tow; 1984 submersible Cyana |
| GEISEIR site 28, segment M6 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -44.7237 | 94.6039 | 2700 | 2009 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 17, segment L3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.6498 | 87.3481 | 2500 | 2010 plume only |