hypocenter

Also known as focus, ground zero, hypocentre, earthquake source

A hypocenter or hypocentre, also called ground zero or surface zero, is the point on the Earth's surface directly below a nuclear explosion, meteor air burst, or other mid-air explosion. In seismology, the hypocenter of an earthquake is its point of origin below ground; a synonym is the focus of an earthquake.

AI overview

A hypocenter is the point where an explosion originates—either on the ground surface (for nuclear or meteor explosions) or below ground (for earthquakes). Understanding the hypocenter matters because it helps scientists and emergency responders locate where an event started and assess its characteristics and potential impact.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Hipocentro y epicentro.png

Show 1 more fact

Commons category: Hypocenters

Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~7 min read

Article

8 sections

Contents

Trinity, Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The Pentagon
World Trade Center
Meteor air bursts
Earthquakes
See also
References
External links

Generally, the terms ground zero and surface zero are also used in relation to epidemics, and other disasters to mark the point of the most severe damage or destruction. The term is distinguished from the term zero point in that the latter can also be located in the air, underground, or underwater.