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Geology & Earth Sciences vocabulary · Earthquakes & Seismology

Hypocenter

Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples

/ˈhaɪpoʊsentər/nounCommon term

In geology & earth sciences, hypocenter means: The point underground where an earthquake rupture starts, also called the focus. Its depth below the surface is called the focal depth.

In Turkish: iç merkez, odak, hiposantr

How it is used

Given in seismology reports with its depth: 'a shallow hypocenter at 10 km'. Shallow earthquakes, less than about 70 km deep, usually cause more damage than deeper ones of the same magnitude. The UK spelling is hypocentre.

Example sentences

  1. The hypocenter was only 8 km deep, which explains the heavy damage.

  2. Seismologists locate the hypocentre using arrival times at many stations.

Common collocations

  • focal depth
  • a shallow hypocenter
  • locate the hypocenter
  • hypocenter depth
  • epicenterThe point on the Earth's surface directly above the place underground where an earthquake starts.
  • earthquakeA sudden shaking of the ground caused by rocks breaking and slipping along a fault, which releases energy as seismic waves.
  • seismic waveA wave of energy that travels through the Earth or along its surface, produced by an earthquake, an explosion or another sudden ground movement.
  • faultA fracture in the Earth's crust along which the rocks on either side have moved. Sudden slip on a fault causes an earthquake.

More terms: Earthquakes & Seismology

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