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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahyi | active, inferred | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 20.4200 | 145.0300 | 60 | 2003 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 14, segment L1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.0716 | 86.1550 | 2700 | 2010 plume only |
| Gakkel Ridge, Site 7 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 86.9833 | 55.5000 | 3800 | 2001 plume only |
| Tonga Arc, Volcano J1 | active, inferred | arc volcano | Tonga Arc | -17.2400 | -173.9500 | 560 | 2004 plume only |
| MTJ, PAPATUA | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.3850 | -174.6430 | 2170 | 1986 PAPATUA Expedition deposits only; 2008 plume only |
| EPR, 21 54'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.9000 | -114.5000 | 2800 | 1987-1988 deposits only [need to check Fouquet et al. (1993) for confirmation] |
| Sonne | active, inferred | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -34.0580 | 179.5890 | 1127 | 2002 plume only |
| NWLSC, Southern Caldera | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.9000 | -177.4166 | 2160 | 2008 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 26, segment M4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -43.6901 | 92.8451 | 2500 | 2009 plume only |
| Bayonnaise Knoll caldera | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Izu-Bonin back-arc | 31.9667 | 139.7333 | 900 | 2003 temperature anomalies, but camera survey observed inactive vent deposits |
| N-ELSC, plume 25 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.8900 | -176.0640 | 2680 | 2004 plume only |
| Europa | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Mid-Cayman Rise | 18.3500 | -81.8500 | 2400 | 2009 plume only, not observed on dive with hybrid ROV Nereus |
| Vema Fracture Zone | active, inferred | other | N MAR | 10.7100 | -42.6800 | 5180 | 2015 plume only |
| Knipovich Ridge, 75 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Knipovich Ridge | 74.8000 | 8.4417 | 3185 | 2000 plume only |
| Red Sea Rift, 18 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Red Sea | 17.9667 | 40.0667 | 1500 | 1980 submersible Pisces XI (deposits only) |
| MAR, 23 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -23.7428 | -13.3936 | 2880 | 2013 plume only |
| CIR, 19 29'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -19.4830 | 65.7330 | 2700 | 1988 plume only; 2000 submersible Nautile did not confirm activity |
| Hinetapeka volcanic center | active, inferred | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -28.5900 | -177.8200 | 300 | 2004 plume and dredging NZAPLUME III expedition |
| SEIR-WXC07 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 138.3000 | 2420 | 2015 plume only |
| MAR, 43 N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 43.0000 | -29.0000 | 3400 | 1986 or earlier plume only |
| EPR, 16 35'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -16.5830 | -113.0600 | 2650 | 1993 plume only; 1998 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity |
| GEISEIR site 37, segment O4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -47.7483 | 98.1756 | 2800 | 2009 plume only |
| C-ELSC, plume 18 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -20.9500 | -176.2390 | 2230 | 2004 plume only |
| Nereus Deep | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Red Sea | 23.1670 | 37.2830 | 2400 | 1972 deposits only |
| Zealandia | active, inferred | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 16.8800 | 145.8500 | 144 | 2003 plume only; 2009 or earlier ROV did not confirm activity |
| Stockwork | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 47.9000 | -129.1240 | 2300 | 2005 submersible Alvin (need publication to determine if confirmed) |
| Rainbow Bay | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -14.0300 | -14.3400 | 2900 | 2009 towed video did not confirm activity |
| S AMAR 1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 36.0830 | -34.0830 | 2630 | 1992 plume only; 1994 plume only |
| Mariana Trough, 16.5 N | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Mariana Trough | 16.4010 | 144.8700 | 3829 | 2015 plume only |
| EPR, 28.3 S, Segment W3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -28.3000 | -112.9830 | 2220 | 1998 plume only |