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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esmeralda Bank | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 14.9667 | 145.2500 | 323 | 1990 towed video and TV-grab; 1978 hydrothermal deposits only |
| Akuseki-jima | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Ryukyu Arc | 29.4610 | 129.5970 | 5 | 1993 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Vienna Woods, Hydrothermal Field 4 | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Manus Basin | -3.3712 | 150.0360 | 2240 | 1990 TV-grab |
| Yali | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Hellenic Arc, Aegean Sea | 36.6600 | 27.1300 | 3 | 1991 or earlier, from beach |
| Aegir | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 72.3440 | 1.5550 | 2600 | 2015 ROV Ægir 6000; 2013 plume only; 2015 AUV |
| Axial Seamount, International District | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 45.9266 | -129.9795 | 1544 | 1986 submersible Pisces IV |
| Rumble III volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -35.7333 | 178.4667 | 380 | 2000 towed camera; 1999 plume only |
| EPR, 11 42'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 11.7000 | -103.8500 | 2580 | 1984 Angus camera (or 1985 Argo video) tow with temperature |
| SPOT, Hatoma Knoll | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 24.8550 | 123.8410 | 1520 | 1999 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| EPR, 23 30'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -23.5333 | -115.5667 | 2600 | 1987 or earlier [need to check Marchig & Gundlach (1987)]; 2005 submersible Alvin |
| Natsushima 84-1 Knoll | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 27.5750 | 127.1417 | 1600 | 1986 submersible Shinkai 2000 |
| Minami-Hiyoshi submarine volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 23.4970 | 141.9400 | 80 | 2005 ROV HyperDolphin |
| Maug Caldera | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 20.0200 | 145.2200 | 145 | 2003 SCUBA shallow vents; 2004 ROV ROPOS deeper vents; 2003 plume only deeper vents |
| Feather Duster | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 10.9267 | -103.6767 | 2520 | 1984 towed camera and submersible Alvin |
| Daikoku volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 21.3240 | 144.1940 | 450 | 2004 ROV ROPOS; 2003 plume only |
| Tangaroa volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -36.3250 | 178.0333 | 890 | 2012 likely towed video or TV grab; 1999 plume only |
| Nikko volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 23.0833 | 142.3333 | 600 | 1992 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1979 first observed discolored water above the seamount |
| Yokosuka | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 25.2638 | 124.3733 | 2190 | 2016 ROV Kaiko; 2014 plume only |
| FRSC, Fonualei South | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -17.5352 | -174.5668 | 1620 | 2012 ROV Quest 4000 |
| Rapa Nui | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.5620 | -114.3000 | 2845 | 1999 submersible Alvin; 1987-1988 deposits only |
| EPR, 9 50'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 9.8300 | -104.2900 | 2520 | 1989 Argo I towed video |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Kagamil Island | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Aleutian Arc, western | 52.9800 | -169.7200 | 5 | 2007 SCUBA |
| Kueishan Island, offshore | active, confirmed | back-arc spreading center | Okinawa Trough | 24.8333 | 122.0000 | 1200 | 2008 or earlier |
| Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Tabar-Feni Arc | -4.0833 | 153.5500 | 10 | 1996 or earlier, likely by SCUBA |
| Alarcon Rise, Ja Sit | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gulf of California | 23.3765 | -108.5315 | 2304 | 2012 ROV Doc Ricketts |
| Chamorro volcano | active, confirmed | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 20.8100 | 144.7050 | 896 | 2016 ROV Deep Discoverer; 2003 plume only |
| EPR, 21 25'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.4333 | -114.2917 | 2850 | 1984 submersible Cyana; 1983 deposits only |