# usgs_earthquake_search

Custom earthquake search via USGS fdsnws. Filter by magnitude, time range, and lat/lon bounding box. Returns up to 100 events sorted by time. Use this for analytical queries instead of the feed when you need historical or geographic filtering.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `usgs_earthquake_search`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/usgs-earthquake-search

## Facts

- Tool: `usgs_earthquake_search`
- Server: Livedatalink (`https://livedatalink.ai/mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/blackboxfoundry/livedatalink
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server auth posture: open
- Server CORS policy: *
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 8
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `limit` | number | no | Max results (default 25, max 100) |
| `end_time` | string | no | ISO date or full datetime |
| `start_time` | string | no | ISO date or full datetime YYYY-MM-DD[THH:MM:SS] |
| `max_latitude` | number | no | Bounding box north |
| `min_latitude` | number | no | Bounding box south |
| `max_longitude` | number | no | Bounding box east |
| `min_longitude` | number | no | Bounding box west |
| `min_magnitude` | number | no | Minimum magnitude (e.g. 4.5) |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "usgs_earthquake_search",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why usgs_earthquake_search is rated Low

This tool queries the USGS earthquake database with optional filters and returns historical earthquake data. It is a read-only operation with no side effects—it retrieves and presents information without modifying any data or triggering external operations. The low severity reflects minimal risk to an AI agent using it; misuse would only result in retrieving unwanted earthquake data, not causing damage.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states it performs a 'Custom earthquake search' and 'Returns up to 100 events sorted by time' with filtering capabilities. The verbs 'search' and 'filter' and 'returns' indicate data retrieval only."

## Use case

AI agents call usgs_earthquake_search to retrieve information from Livedatalink without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Livedatalink:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "usgs_earthquake_search": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Livedatalink (279)

- `beneficial_owner_screen` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/beneficial-owner-screen.md
- `cdc_dataset_query` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-dataset-query.md
- `clinical_site_selector` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/clinical-site-selector.md
- `air_quality` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/air-quality.md
- `bank_health_report` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/bank-health-report.md
- `bls_indicator` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/bls-indicator.md
- `bls_series` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/bls-series.md
- `book_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/book-details.md
- `book_fulltext_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/book-fulltext-search.md
- `book_get_text` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/book-get-text.md
- `book_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/book-search.md
- `book_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/book-status.md
- `bounce_scanner` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/bounce-scanner.md
- `candlestick_signals` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/candlestick-signals.md
- `cargo_crate` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cargo-crate.md
- `carrier_vetting_score` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/carrier-vetting-score.md
- `caselaw_case_details` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/caselaw-case-details.md
- `caselaw_citation_lookup` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/caselaw-citation-lookup.md
- `caselaw_opinion_text` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/caselaw-opinion-text.md
- `caselaw_search` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/caselaw-search.md
- `cdc_drug_overdose_deaths` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-drug-overdose-deaths.md
- `cdc_excess_deaths_covid` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-excess-deaths-covid.md
- `cdc_flu_surveillance` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-flu-surveillance.md
- `cdc_leading_causes_of_death` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-leading-causes-of-death.md
- `cdc_outbreak_reports` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-outbreak-reports.md
- `cdc_vaccination_coverage` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-vaccination-coverage.md
- `cdc_weekly_deaths_by_state` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/cdc-weekly-deaths-by-state.md
- `census_business` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/census-business.md
- `census_commute_employment` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/census-commute-employment.md
- `census_demographics` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink/census-demographics.md
- …and 249 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

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Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-blackboxfoundry-livedatalink