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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRSC, T12A-01 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -17.7850 | -174.5260 | 500 | 2012 plume only |
| C-ELSC, unnamed | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.1070 | -176.2920 | 2300 | 2004 (assume submersible Shinkai 6500); 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| 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 |
| N-ELSC, plume 29 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.6000 | -175.9750 | 2700 | 2004 plume only |
| Tu'i Malila | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.9876 | -176.5678 | 1870 | 2005 ROV Jason II; 2004 plume only |
| Mata Ono | active, inferred | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -14.9333 | -173.7916 | 2600 | 2010 plume only |
| CLSC, plumes on CL1 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -17.8667 | -176.3833 | 2250 | 2009 plume only |
| MTJ, T08C03, 15.72 S | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.7186 | -174.8338 | 2400 | 2008 plume only |
| Tahi Moana 7 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.3300 | -174.2500 | 1940 | 2004 plume only; 2008 plume only; 2009 video camera tow (activity not confirmed) |
| Mata Nima | inactive | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -14.9583 | -173.7833 | 2670 | 2010 no plume detected |
| MTJ, T08C01 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.9629 | -174.7961 | 2400 | 2008 plume only |
| NWLSC, Central Caldera | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.8000 | -177.2666 | 2200 | 2008 plume and dredge only |
| Misiteli | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.4700 | -176.7030 | 2050 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only |
| Vai Lili | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.2151 | -176.6083 | 1764 | 1989 submersible Nautile |
| Mata Fa | active, inferred | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -14.9833 | -173.8000 | 2600 | 2010 plume only |
| Lobster | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.3330 | -176.2830 | 1500 | 2008 plume and dredge only |
| ABE | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.7619 | -176.1910 | 2220 | 2004 AUV ABE; 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| FRSC, Fonualei South | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -17.5352 | -174.5668 | 1620 | 2012 ROV Quest 4000 |
| FRSC, Central | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -16.4917 | -174.5417 | 2419 | 2004 plume only |
| Niuatahi | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.3790 | -174.0196 | 1635 | 2009 ROV Jason II; 2003 plume only; 2004 dredging (SS11/2004 cruise); 2005 plume only; 2008 commercial ROV (report does not confirm activity) |
| Si'iSi'i | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.2900 | -176.6290 | 1950 | 2008 commercial ROV; 2003 plume only |
| Mata Ua | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -15.0166 | -173.7833 | 2397 | 2012 ROV Quest 4000; 2010 plume only (towed camera did not confirm) |
| FRSC, RC 129 and CTD 24 plume sites | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -17.0250 | -174.5017 | 1750 | 2004 plume only; 2004 dredging |
| NWLSC, Southern Caldera | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.9000 | -177.4166 | 2160 | 2008 plume only |
| Momoko | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -22.6400 | -176.7210 | 2180 | 1989 submersible Nautile |
| 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) |
| Mata Taha | active, inferred | arc volcano | Lau Basin | -15.0416 | -173.7833 | 2160 | 2010 plume only |
| Hot Beach, Mendeleev Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 43.9760 | 145.7360 | 1 | 1990 or earlier, from the beach |
| Paramushir Island | inactive | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 50.3300 | 155.5000 | 800 | NotProvided |
| Kraternaya Bight, Ushishir Volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kuril Arc | 47.5167 | 152.8000 | 60 | 1985 SCUBA |