In seismology, a seismic zone is an area of seismicity potentially sharing a common cause. It may also be a region on a map for which a common areal rate of seismicity is assumed for the purpose of calculating probabilistic ground motions. An obsolete definition is a region on a map in which a common level of seismic design is required.
A type of seismic zone is a Wadati–Benioff zone which corresponds with the down-going slab in a subduction zone.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey.