How to Use the USGS Earthquakes MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do I use USGS Earthquakes data with VS Code Copilot?

You configure the MCP Server in your shared .vscode/mcp.json file. Once committed, every developer on the team can access and call the tools directly within Copilot Chat.

Q: What is the limit when querying USGS Earthquakes with VS Code Copilot?

The queryearthquakes tool supports retrieving up to 20,000 events per query. This high limit ensures your team can pull comprehensive data sets for analysis.

Q: Does the MCP Server allow filtering by magnitude using VS Code Copilot?

Yes. You specify a minmagnitude in your project configuration when defining a search query. This lets the entire engineering team focus only on events above a certain size threshold.

Q: Can VS Code Copilot query historical USGSEarthquakes data using the MCP Server?

You can run complex queries by specifying both starttime and endtime. This allows your team to analyze long-term trends and model past activity patterns.

Standardize team access to USGS Earthquakes data via VS Code Copilot.

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Connect USGS Earthquakes MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect USGS Earthquakes to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup USGS Earthquakes with VS Code Copilot

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Query Global Earthquakes in Team Projects

The `query_earthquakes` tool allows the entire team to query global seismic activity using precise parameters. You define filters like `starttime`, `endtime`, and geographic boundaries, ensuring everyone uses the same standard search mechanism. This shared configuration makes it easy for developers to reference specific event sets when writing research modules or data-driven tests.

Check Earthquake Counts in Documentation

Use the `count_earthquakes` tool to generate a metric of total matching earthquakes. You can commit this count directly into documentation or PR descriptions, providing immediate context for stakeholders. This feature lets you quickly report on data volume without running manual scripts.

Get Significant Global Earthquakes Context

The `get_significant_30_days` tool supplies the most important global earthquake events from the last month. This standardized context is invaluable for setting up feature requirements or defining project scope. It keeps all team members aligned on current, high-impact seismic data without requiring manual lookups.

Setup guide

Set up USGS Earthquakes MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the USGS Earthquakes MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the USGS Earthquakes tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent USGS Earthquakes transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "usgs-earthquakes-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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Common questions about USGS Earthquakes MCP in VS Code Copilot

You configure the MCP Server in your shared `.vscode/mcp.json` file. Once committed, every developer on the team can access and call the tools directly within Copilot Chat.

The `query_earthquakes` tool supports retrieving up to 20,000 events per query. This high limit ensures your team can pull comprehensive data sets for analysis.

Yes. You specify a `minmagnitude` in your project configuration when defining a search query. This lets the entire engineering team focus only on events above a certain size threshold.

The server manages real-time seismic event records. The data includes magnitude, latitude/longitude coordinates, and precise time stamps for global earthquake activity.

You can run complex queries by specifying both `starttime` and `endtime`. This allows your team to analyze long-term trends and model past activity patterns.

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