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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPR, 22 30'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -22.5000 | -114.3670 | 2600 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity) |
| MAR, 24 30'N | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 24.5000 | -46.1533 | 3900 | 1987 deposits only |
| EPR, 18 32'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -18.5550 | -113.4160 | 2647 | 1993 submersible Nautile |
| Alarcon Rise, Tzab-ek | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gulf of California | 23.3526 | -108.5597 | 2249 | 2015 ROV Doc Ricketts |
| MAR, 11 26'N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 11.4482 | -43.7035 | 3835 | 2009 plume only |
| Eyjafjördur | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Kolbeinsey Ridge | 65.8500 | -18.1333 | 65 | 1997, likely by SCUBA |
| 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 |
| SWIR, unnamed, Segment 26 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -37.6080 | 50.8527 | 2800 | 2008 dredge only DY115-20 Leg 6 |
| SWIR, D57 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -52.2240 | 13.7380 | 3517 | 2000-2001 plume and dredge only |
| Dellwood Seamount | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Explorer Ridge | 50.7470 | -130.8961 | 800 | 1974 or earlier deposits only; 2018 ROV Hercules inactive |
| MESO Zone | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -23.3927 | 69.2422 | 2850 | 1993 TV grab and water column measurements |
| EPR, 29.5 S, Segment E1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -29.5000 | -111.7200 | 2580 | 1998 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 26, segment M4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -43.6901 | 92.8451 | 2500 | 2009 plume only |
| Aurora | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 82.8833 | -6.2500 | 4100 | 2001 shimmering water in camera tow and sulfide chimney in dredge |
| Galapagos Rift, 94.4 W | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 2.5300 | -94.3300 | 2400 | 2005 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 15, segment L1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.2230 | 86.3892 | 2500 | 2010 plume only |
| Gakkel Ridge, 85 E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 85.6500 | 84.8333 | 3900 | 2001 plume only; 2007 towed video did not confirm activity |
| Krasnov | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 16.6400 | -46.4750 | 3900 | 2002 or earlier plume only; 2004 TV grab indicated inactive; 2007 ROV Victor indicated inactive |
| MAR, 23 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -23.7428 | -13.3936 | 2880 | 2013 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 10, segment K4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -42.4770 | 82.7100 | 2500 | 1996 plume only; 2010 plume only |
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 7 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -17.0000 | 66.8000 | 3100 | 2010 plume only |
| East Blanco Depression | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 44.2170 | -129.6250 | 3460 | 1994 ROV U.S. Navy's Advanced Tethered Vehicle |
| EPR, 7 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -7.0000 | -107.5500 | 2600 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab |
| GEISEIR site 37, segment O4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -47.7483 | 98.1756 | 2800 | 2009 plume only |
| Rainbow | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 36.2300 | -33.9020 | 2320 | 1997 submersible Nautile |
| Green Seamount | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 20.8033 | -109.2833 | 2000 | 1982 submersible Alvin observed only inactive |
| West Valley | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 48.4833 | -129.0417 | 3000 | 1987 and 1988 deposits only (towed camera did not confirm activity) |
| SEIR-WXC02 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 137.0000 | 2620 | 2015 plume only |
| EPR, 17 34'S | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -17.5667 | -113.2333 | 2600 | 1994 submersible Shinkai 6500; 1996 Argo II towed video |
| Zouyu ridge | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -13.2800 | -14.4100 | 2315 | 2009 towed video |