epicenter

Epicenter and hypocenter
Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

The point on the Earth's surface vertically above the hypocenter (or focus), point in the crust where a seismic rupture, such as an earthquake, begins. Depending on the character of the focus, the epicenter may be a small circle or a line.

Related category

• GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

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