noun
deep earthquake; deep-focus earthquake
Technical term in seismology for an earthquake whose focus is deeper than about 100 km. Often contrasted with 浅発地震 (shallow earthquake).
See also: 浅発地震
深発地震は震源が深いため、広い範囲で揺れが観測されることがある。
Because deep-focus earthquakes have a deep hypocenter, shaking can sometimes be observed over a wide area.
Refers to a shallow earthquake, typically with a focus less than about 60 km deep. 深発地震 is its deep counterpart.
Compound of 深 (shin, 'deep') + 発 (hatsu, 'occurrence') + 地震 (jishin, 'earthquake'). The term is a modern technical coinage.