Abstract: The seafloor hydrothermal activity research has become a hot and popular field in marine geology in recent years. Compared
to the deep seafloor hydrothermal activity research that has drawn much attention, the shallow-water hydrothermal activity research is
still at an infancy stage. Because the shallow-water hydrothermal regions are often located at regions close to where human activities
take place, shallow water hydrothermal systems can affect human’s life. Shallow-water hydrothermal activity research is helpful to
understand the cyclic process of hydrothermal fluids, the origin of hydrothermal fluid, and related dynamic processes. This paper
presents recent adavnces in shallow-water hydrothermal activity research using geochemical tracers. In addition, we highlight major
scientific questions and suggest important future research directions, including the following three aspects: sources of shallow
hydrothermal fluids and gases; the relationship between shallow-water hydrothermal system model and structure environment; the
influence of shallow-water hydrothermal activity on human.

Key words: shallow-water hydrothermal activity, geochemistry, element, isotopic element