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 Settingsort descending Region Latitude Longitude Maximum or Single Reported Depth Year and How Discovered
EPR, 10 44.6'N active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 10.7433 -103.6500 2580 1985 Argo video tow with temperature
North Cleft, high temperature active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 44.9800 -130.2000 2300 1987 camera/CTD tows discovered low-temperature vents; 1988 submersible Alvin sampled low-temperature vents; 1990 submersible Alvin discovered black smoker
Gakkel Ridge, Site 6 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 86.5333 43.0000 3000 2001 plume only
GEISEIR site 26, segment M4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -43.6901 92.8451 2500 2009 plume only
MAR, 31 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -31.7377 -13.3772 3050 2013 plume only
EPR, 31.4 S, Segment E4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -31.4330 -111.9670 2350 1998 plume only
MAR, 11 N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 11.0380 -43.6483 4010 1984 plume only; 2009 plume only
EPR/Tamayo intersection active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 22.9333 -108.0667 3200 1979 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity
Petersburgskoe inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 19.8666 -45.8666 3100 2010 dredging only
MAR, 4 02'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -4.0333 -12.2500 4000 2005 plume only
Menez Gwen active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 37.8417 -31.5250 865 1994 submersible Nautile
MAR, 23 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S MAR -23.7428 -13.3936 2880 2013 plume only
Axial Seamount, CASM active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge JdF Ridge 45.9892 -130.0272 1580 1983 submersible Pisces IV
Galapagos Rift, 95 W inactive mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 2.5000 -95.1667 2600 NotProvided
EPR, 14 18'S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -14.3000 -112.6670 2630 1993 plume only
Owen transform fault inactive mid-ocean ridge Carlsberg Ridge 9.8333 57.9500 4500 NotProvided
MAR, 16 46'N inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 16.7950 -46.3800 3300 NotProvided
CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 7 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge CIR -17.0000 66.8000 3100 2010 plume only
GEISEIR site 37, segment O4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -47.7483 98.1756 2800 2009 plume only
Ashadze-1 active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 12.9733 -44.8633 4200 2003 TV profiling; 2007 ROV Victor 6000
Consag Basin active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 30.6333 -113.9083 140 2007 echosounder and grab samples
GEISEIR site 3, segment J4 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -41.7720 79.7530 2800 1996 plume only
Alarcon Rise, Ja Sit active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gulf of California 23.3765 -108.5315 2304 2012 ROV Doc Ricketts
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
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)
Iguanas-Pinguinos active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Galapagos Rift 2.1000 -91.9350 1640 2005 towed video Medea
Kolbeinsey Ridge, 69 N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Kolbeinsey Ridge 68.7581 -16.0000 1200 1980 or earlier sediments only
EPR, 11 07'N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N EPR 11.1330 -103.7800 2580 1988 submersible Alvin dive #1989 (need reference to confirm activity); 1991 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)
NESCA active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge Gorda Ridge 41.0000 -127.4917 3300 1988 submersible Alvin; 1986 dredge and photographs did not confirm activity

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