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 Settingsort ascending Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
Punta Banda active, confirmed other Coastal Baja California 31.7500 -116.7500 30 1960's commercial abalone divers
Punta Mita, Bahia de Banderas active, confirmed other Coastal Mexico 20.7700 -105.5200 10 1997 photo/video most likely by SCUBA
Prony Bay active, confirmed other -22.3333 166.8333 50 1979 or earlier, likely SCUBA
White Point, Palos Verde, California active, confirmed other Coastal California 33.7000 -118.3167 10 1984 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Bahia Concepcion active, confirmed other Coastal Baja California 26.6667 -111.8333 15 1968 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Capo Miseno, Gulf of Naples active, confirmed other Coastal Italy 40.7833 14.0833 20 1982 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Capo Palinuro active, confirmed other Coastal Italy 40.0167 15.2667 30 1990 or earlier, likely by SCUBA
Vema Fracture Zone active, inferred other N MAR 10.7100 -42.6800 5180 2015 plume only
Ischia Island, Gulf of Naples active, confirmed other Coastal Italy 40.7306 13.9500 10 1954 or earlier, from the beach
Dorado Outcrop active, confirmed other 9.0800 -87.0950 3000 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751
San Felipe active, inferred other Coastal Baja California 31.0000 -114.8000 1 1982 or earlier, likely from shore
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 6, 14.75 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -14.7500 66.5000 3400 2010 plume only
Mohns Ridge, 72 N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Mohns Ridge 72.0390 -0.2520 2500 1987 plume only; 2013 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
North FAMOUS active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 36.9670 -32.9670 2500 1994 plume only
Rehu-Marka active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -17.4333 -113.2000 2590 1993 submersible Nautile; 1984 submersible Cyana - Auzende et al. (1996) says that no active black smokers were discovered but Krasnov et al. (1997) says one black smoker observed
SWIR, unnamed, Segment 26 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.6080 50.8527 2800 2008 dredge only DY115-20 Leg 6
SWIR, Plume 1, Segment 17 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -31.1830 58.5000 3600 1997 plume only
E Los Huellos Caldera active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 0.9500 -90.5300 1600 2005 plume only; 2005 towed video Medea did not confirm activity
EPR, 28.4 S, Segment W4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -28.4170 -112.9640 2350 1998 plume only
GEISEIR site 15, segment L1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.2230 86.3892 2500 2010 plume only
SEIR-WXC12 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -50.2500 136.2500 2780 2015 plume only
EPR, Manzanillo Spreading Segment active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 18.2500 -106.3000 2600 1997 plume only
EPR, 20 06'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -20.1000 -113.7080 3000 1981 Angus camera tow; 1984 submersible Cyana
near Jade Emperor Mountain, on-axis active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.8666 49.2166 3000 2010 plume only
Sea Cliff active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gorda Ridge 42.7550 -126.7083 2800 1988 submersible Sea Cliff; 1985 plume only; 1986 dredge and camera tow did not confirm activity
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
S Oceanographer active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 34.8670 -36.4330 3460 1992 plume only
Tevnia active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 10.3333 -103.5533 2925 1994 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity
Galapagos Mounds active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 1.4500 -86.1665 2700 1977 submersible Alvin

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