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
NELSC, T08C09 and T08C18	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.4030	-174.2630	1800	2008 plume only
VFR, plume 3	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-22.4000	-176.6790	1980	2004 plume only
NWLSC, Southern Caldera	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.9000	-177.4166	2160	2008 plume only
Calypso Vents	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Taupo Volcanic Zone	-37.6800	177.1170	200	1989 submersible Soucoup
Solwara 18	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.0760	147.2390	1308	2008 plumes with some sites subsequently observed with ROV; 2009 commercial ROV Fugro FV300 (activity not confirmed)
ELSC3	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-21.1667	-176.3333	2140	2009 plume only
N-ELSC, plume 29	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-19.6000	-175.9750	2700	2004 plume only
Irabu Knoll	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	25.2300	124.8800	1850	2000 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1986 seafloor photos did not confirm activity
ESR, E9	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	East Scotia Ridge	-60.0500	-29.9300	2402	2009 towed video; 1999 plume only; 2010 ROV Isis
Tarama Knoll	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	25.0916	124.5416	1990	2009 ROV HyperDolphin
Okinawa Trough, Site ES1	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	30.3303	129.0827	521	1992 dredge only
Kueishan Island	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	24.8333	121.9500	30	1999, likely by SCUBA
SuSu Knolls	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.8000	152.1000	1520	1996 towed camera/video; 1993 plume only
C-ELSC, plume 15	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-21.2700	-176.3470	2230	2004 plume only
Maka	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.4217	-174.2850	1660	2008 commercial ROV; 2004 plume only; 2006 plume and chimney samples
Pere Lachaise	inactive	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-16.9667	173.9333	2000	1989 submersible Nautile did not find activity; 1991 submersible Shinkai 6500 did not find activity
Tripartite Ridge, south of TR1	inactive	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-14.5000	177.0000	3000	NotProvided
Si'iSi'i	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-22.2900	-176.6290	1950	2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only
Three Sisters, Middle Sister	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Bransfield Strait	-62.6420	-58.9833	1040	1995 plume only; 1999 still had no visual confirmation
FRSC, 14b, 16.31 S	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-16.3110	-174.5550	2380	2008 plume only
VFR, plume 4	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-22.3400	-176.6590	1700	2004 plume only
Solwara 19	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Manus Basin	-3.6660	148.7640	1039	2009 commercial ROV Fugro FV300 (activity not confirmed)
Mussel Valley	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	North Fiji Basin	-18.8167	173.4833	2700	1989 submersible Nautile; 1987 plume; 1988 towed camera did not confirm activity
Okinawa Trough, Site ES2	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	28.8137	128.1028	779	1992 dredge only
Kueishan Island, offshore	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	24.8333	122.0000	1200	2008 or earlier
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
Dugong submarine volcano	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-15.4500	-175.7000	1170	2008 plume only
C-ELSC, plume 17	active, inferred	back-arc spreading center	Lau Basin	-20.9900	-176.2530	2270	2004 plume only
Philippine Ridge, West Philippine Basin	inactive	back-arc spreading center	West Philippine Basin	12.0000	131.4170	5800	NotProvided
Sakai	active, confirmed	back-arc spreading center	Okinawa Trough	27.5481	126.9895	1600	1988 submersible Shinkai 2000; 1987 plume only

Search form

Pages