epicentro

Epicentro, or epicenter, is the point on the Earth's surface that lies directly above the hypocenter (focus) of an earthquake. The word originates from Greek, with epi meaning “upon” and kentron meaning “center.”

In seismology, the epicenter represents the surface projection of the earthquake's origin. The hypocenter is the actual location inside the Earth where the fault rupture begins. Determining the epicenter involves recording seismic waves at multiple stations and using the arrival times of P-waves and S-waves to triangulate the position and estimate the depth of the focus.

The epicenter is often associated with the area of strongest ground shaking, though local factors such as geology, fault geometry, and rupture duration can influence the damage pattern. Reports typically specify the epicenter coordinates, the depth of the hypocenter, and the earthquake’s magnitude. The concept is central to earthquake monitoring, public communication, and emergency response planning.

Related concepts include the hypocenter, the mechanisms of seismic waves, and seismic hazard assessments.