Is an API key required?

No! The USGS FDSNWS Event API is completely open and requires zero authentication, making this one of the most accessible and powerful real-time data sources available.

What is the query limit?

The maximum number of events returned per single API query is 20,000. If your time range or boundaries are too wide, the API will fail. Use the `count` tool first on large searches.

How fast is the data updated?

The USGS typically updates its earthquake data within minutes of an event occurring, making it one of the most reliable sources for near real-time seismic alerts.

USGS Earthquakes MCP Server for Cursor 3 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: USGS Earthquakes
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 3 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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Classic Setup·json

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

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Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About USGS Earthquakes MCP Server

The USGS Earthquakes MCP Server brings planet-scale telemetry directly to your AI agent. Pulling strictly real-time and historical data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) API, this tool gives you instant visibility into everything from micro-tremors to catastrophic seismic events globally.

Cursor's Agent mode turns USGS Earthquakes into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from USGS Earthquakes and it fetches, processes, and writes — all in a single agentic loop. 3 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

Core Capabilities

Global Seismic Monitoring — Query real-time data across the planet.
Radial & Bounding Box Search — Focus searches on specific fault lines, continents, or specific radial points like Tokyo or San Francisco.
Magnitude & Time Filters — Zero in on data by slicing through specific date ranges and Richter thresholds.
High-Alert Diagnostics — Detect immediate tsunami warnings and review detailed human-curated significance ratings.

Whether you are building environmental response bots or running historical data analytics on tectonic shifts, this zero-auth integration puts the pulse of the planet in your hands.

The USGS Earthquakes MCP Server exposes 3 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect USGS Earthquakes to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the USGS Earthquakes MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using USGS Earthquakes

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using USGS Earthquakes, help me..." — 3 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the USGS Earthquakes MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with USGS Earthquakes through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP — no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

USGS Earthquakes + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the USGS Earthquakes MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

USGS Earthquakes MCP Tools for Cursor (3)

These 3 tools become available when you connect USGS Earthquakes to Cursor via MCP:

count_earthquakes

Get the total count of earthquakes matching specific criteria

get_significant_30_days

No parameters needed. Get highly significant global earthquakes from the last 30 days

query_earthquakes

Use parameters like starttime, endtime, minmagnitude, and geographic boundaries (latitude/longitude/maxradiuskm) to narrow the search. Maximum 20,000 events returned per query. Search for global earthquakes using USGS real-time seismic data

Example Prompts for USGS Earthquakes in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with USGS Earthquakes immediately.

"Show me the most significant earthquakes in the world from the last 30 days."

"Count the number of earthquakes above magnitude 2.5 in California in 2023."

"Check if there are any current tsunami warnings globally."

Troubleshooting USGS Earthquakes MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting USGS Earthquakes to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

USGS Earthquakes + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating USGS Earthquakes MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design — tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.