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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Sonne | active, inferred | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -34.0580 | 179.5890 | 1127 | 2002 plume only |
| Galapagos Rift, 93.7 W | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 2.4970 | -93.7700 | 2220 | 2005 plume only |
| Atlantis II Deep | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Red Sea | 21.3417 | 38.0750 | 2200 | 1965 "confirmed" hot brine and cored seafloor, but see Table 1 in Miller et al. (1966) for historical measurements |
| N-ELSC, plume 28 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -19.6500 | -175.9890 | 2550 | 2004 plume only |
| Mariana Trough, 14.5 N | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Mariana Trough | 14.4870 | 144.0940 | 4120 | 2015 plume only |
| Fukujin volcano | active, inferred | arc volcano | Mariana Arc | 21.9300 | 143.4700 | 1100 | 1987 deposits only |
| CIR, 8-17 S, Segment 2 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | CIR | -9.9000 | 66.7500 | 4000 | 2010 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 4, segment K1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.2025 | 81.0625 | 2800 | 2010 plume only |
| CLSC, northern plumes on CL6 | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -18.1333 | -176.2833 | 2250 | 2009 plume only |
| E Los Huellos Caldera | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 0.9500 | -90.5300 | 1600 | 2005 plume only; 2005 towed video Medea 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 |
| North FAMOUS | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 36.9670 | -32.9670 | 2500 | 1994 plume only |
| Gorda Ridge, GR-15 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 42.9500 | -126.5500 | 3365 | 1985 plume only |
| Boomerang Seamount | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -37.7217 | 77.8250 | 850 | 1996 plume and wax core only |
| Ngatoroirangi | active, inferred | arc volcano | Kermadec Arc | -33.7310 | 179.8250 | 467 | 2002 plume only |
| EPR, 21 20'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -21.3670 | -114.2570 | 2900 | 1981 plume only; 1987-1988 deposits only |
| EPR, 31.4 S, Segment E4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -31.4330 | -111.9670 | 2350 | 1998 plume only |
| SESCA | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 40.7500 | -127.5200 | 3300 | 1986 sediments and heat-flow measurements |
| GEISEIR site 18, segment L3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.7133 | 87.4375 | 2500 | 2010 plume only |
| SWIR, D62 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -52.2530 | 15.1030 | 3990 | 2000-2001 plume and dredge only |
| Carlsberg Ridge, 63 40'E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Carlsberg Ridge | 3.7000 | 63.6666 | 3500 | 2007 plume only |
| EPR, 1 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -0.8000 | -102.4600 | 2800 | 2005 plume only |
| C-ELSC, unnamed | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -21.1070 | -176.2920 | 2300 | 2004 (assume submersible Shinkai 6500); 2004 plume only on previous cruise |
| MTJ, PAPATUA | active, inferred | back-arc spreading center | Lau Basin | -15.3850 | -174.6430 | 2170 | 1986 PAPATUA Expedition deposits only; 2008 plume only |
| Rainbow Bay | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -14.0300 | -14.3400 | 2900 | 2009 towed video did not confirm activity |
| Merian | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -26.0166 | -13.8500 | 2550 | 2012 R/V Dayang Yihao; 2013 AUV Abyss plume and side-scan data |
| SEIR-WXC02 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -50.2500 | 137.0000 | 2620 | 2015 plume only |
| EPR, 17 56'S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -17.9400 | -113.3170 | 2620 | 1993 plume only |
| EPR, 28 S, Segment W3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -28.0170 | -112.9040 | 2130 | 1998 plume only |