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 Depthsort ascending Year and How Discovered
13 N Ridge Site active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 13.0987 143.6886 3036 2000 deep-tow camera (later, same year - ROV Kaiko)
Knipovich Ridge, 77 40'N active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Knipovich Ridge 77.6300 7.5800 3000 2000 plume only
Dorado Outcrop active, confirmed other 9.0800 -87.0950 3000 2013 ROV Jason Dive J2-751
EPR, 2 S, off-axis active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -2.0840 -102.8270 3000 2008 plume only
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)
EPR, Ridge 1, 20 40'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -20.8333 -114.1667 3000 1983 Deep Tow camera
Su Causeway active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -38.1000 48.6000 3000 2014 leg 2 or 3 of the 30th Chinese Cruise
ESR, E5 active, inferred back-arc spreading center East Scotia Ridge -57.5000 -30.2000 3000 1999 plume only
EPR, 20 06'S active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -20.1000 -113.7080 3000 1981 Angus camera tow; 1984 submersible Cyana
Bai Causeway active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.9000 48.8000 3000 2014 leg 2 or 3 of the 30th Chinese Cruise
EPR, 20 S active, inferred mid-ocean ridge S EPR -20.0333 -113.6843 3000 1999 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity
S-OH1 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 34.5330 -36.8500 3000 1996 submersible Nautile did not find active vents; 2000 or earlier plume only
Central Spreading Ridge, Station 19 S active, inferred back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -19.0000 173.5000 3000 1991 submersible Shinkai 6500 did not confirm activity
Chile Triple Junction, 10 km north active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Chile Rise -46.2000 -75.8333 3000 2010 plume only
east of Central Spreading Ridge inactive back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -15.4510 174.6902 3000 NotProvided
MAR, south of 15 20'N fracture zone active, inferred mid-ocean ridge N MAR 15.0833 -45.0000 3000 1988 plume only; 1992 submersible Nautile did not observe active vents
MAR, 25 50'N inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 25.8083 -44.9833 3000 NotProvided
Chile Triple Junction active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Chile Rise -46.3000 -75.8000 3000 2010 plume only
Gakkel Ridge, Site 6 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge Gakkel Ridge 86.5333 43.0000 3000 2001 plume only
West Fiji Ridge active, inferred back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -17.0000 176.0000 3000 1995 deep tow
near Jade Emperor Mountain, on-axis active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SWIR -37.8666 49.2166 3000 2010 plume only
Tripartite Ridge, south of TR1 inactive back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -14.5000 177.0000 3000 NotProvided
EPR, 1.4 S, off-axis active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge S EPR -1.3690 -102.4560 3000 2008 towed video
MAR, 15 50'N inactive mid-ocean ridge N MAR 15.8667 -46.6667 3000 NotProvided
Tripartite Ridge, south of TR3 inactive back-arc spreading center North Fiji Basin -14.0745 175.4729 3000 NotProvided
SEIR-WXC15 active, inferred mid-ocean ridge SEIR -50.2500 135.3000 3000 2015 plume only
Irinovskoye active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N MAR 13.3327 -44.9099 3000 2013 ROV Victor6000; 2007 dredge only; 2009 or 2011 did not confirm
Pika active, confirmed back-arc spreading center Mariana Trough 12.9183 143.6483 2990 2003 submersible Shinkai 6500; 2003 plume only
TOTO Caldera active, confirmed arc volcano Mariana Arc 12.7167 143.5333 2960 2000 deep-tow camera (later, same year - ROV Kaiko); 1998 or earlier hydrothermal deposits dredged; 1998 plume only
Mounds and Microbes active, confirmed mid-ocean ridge N EPR 9.4500 -104.5383 2950 2002 submersible Alvin; 1994 submersible Alvin did not confirm activity

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