The hypocenter is the point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture begins, located directly beneath the epicenter on the Earth’s surface. Understanding the hypocenter is crucial in seismology for determining the depth, location, and magnitude of earthquakes and for assessing seismic hazards.
Reference: Stein, S., & Wysession, M. (2003). An Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes, and Earth Structure. Wiley-Blackwell.