<p>Generally defined, an epicentre is just a projection of the hypocentre (aka focus), on the nearest outer surface of the body in which the seismic source occurs.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T20:10:33.000Z
2014-06-09T20:10:33.000Z
Dekkar
<p>By definition, the answer is <em>yes</em>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>epicenter, the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake, or the Hypocenter</p>
</blockquote>

<p>according to <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Merriam-Webster</a> or a many other sources.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T18:45:17.827Z
Yes to the question - by definition :-) :-)
winwaed
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-06-09T15:04:53.587Z
2019-05-09T10:26:55.333Z
2019-05-09T10:26:55.333Z
gerrit
<p>All the graphics I've seen showing epicenters with a hypocenter (labeled focus in the graph below) appear to show that epicenters are always directly above their related hypocenters. Is this correct?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ds6IC.gif" alt="3D slice of Earth showing a Earthquake with the related fault, epicenter, and hypocenter"></p>

<geophysics><earthquakes>
Is the epicenter always directly above the hypocenter?
blunders
# Is the epicenter always directly above the hypocenter?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-09)

All the graphics I've seen showing epicenters with a hypocenter (labeled focus in the graph below) appear to show that epicenters are always directly above their related hypocenters. Is this correct?

![3D slice of Earth showing a Earthquake with the related fault, epicenter, and hypocenter](https://i.sstatic.net/Ds6IC.gif)

**Tags:** geophysics, earthquakes


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-09. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

By definition, the answer is *yes*:

> epicenter, the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake, or the Hypocenter

according to [Merriam-Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epicenter) or a many other sources.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Yes to the question - by definition :-) :-)  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-09. Score: 5

Generally defined, an epicentre is just a projection of the hypocentre (aka focus), on the nearest outer surface of the body in which the seismic source occurs.


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