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Q40 (CDS-I/2010) Geography › World Physical Geography › Seismology and volcanism Answer Verified

An earthquake epicentre is the

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: D
Explanation

An earthquake epicentre is defined as the point on the Earth's surface located directly above the focus or hypocentre [2]. While the focus (hypocentre) is the actual point within the crust where the rupture or movement along a fault zone originates and energy is released [c1][t1], the epicentre represents the surface projection of this event [t9]. It is typically the first point on the surface to experience seismic waves and often records the highest intensity of shaking [c1][c4]. Seismographs are instruments used to detect these waves but are not the epicentre itself [c1]. The epicentre is not merely an 'approximate centre' of a group of quakes, but a specific geometric point vertically above the initial rupture point [c2][t5]. Therefore, option 4 accurately describes the epicentre as the surface point directly above the fault rupture zone.

Sources

  1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 14: Earthquakes > Focus and Epicentre > p. 177
  2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Earthquakes > p. 8
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

NDA-I · 2024 · Q109 Relevance score: 1.94

Which of the following statements regarding earthquakes is/are correct ? 1. The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus is called the epicentre of the earthquake. 2. Earthquakes generate Primary and Secondary waves that radiate outward from the earthquake focus. 3. Deep-focus earthquakes are likely to cause more damage than shallow-focus earthquakes. Select the answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2016 · Q14 Relevance score: 0.33

With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct? 1. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries. 2. Point of origin of earthquake in lithosphere is known as focus/ hypocentre. 3. Intensity of earthquake decreases with distance from the epicentre. 4. Epicentre of earthquake always remains over continents only. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

CDS-I · 2014 · Q93 Relevance score: -0.73

Which of the following statements relating to earthquakes is/are correct? 1. The point of origin of an earthquake is called the epicenter. 2. The lines joining the places which were affected by earthquake at the same point of time are called homoseismal lines. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

NDA-II · 2025 · Q115 Relevance score: -1.88

Which of the following statements with reference to shadow zones in an event of an earthquake is/are correct ? 1. Zone between 105° and 145° from epicentre was identified as the shadow zone for both P-waves and S-waves 2. The shadow zone of P-waves is much larger than that of the S-waves Select the answer using the code given below :

NDA-I · 2021 · Q61 Relevance score: -2.22

Point of Origin of Earthake Wave is known as