Natural hazards data is critical for disaster risk assessment, emergency planning, and climate adaptation. Here are the best free global datasets.
USGS Earthquake Catalog
The USGS Earthquake Catalog provides real-time and historical earthquake data with magnitude, depth, location, and shake intensity from 1900 to present.
- Update frequency: Real-time + historical
- Format: GeoJSON / CSV / KML
- Best for: Seismic hazard mapping and earthquake monitoring
GEM Global Active Faults
The GEM Global Active Faults Database provides active tectonic fault traces with slip rate and type data for seismic hazard assessment worldwide.
- Coverage: Global
- Format: Shapefile / GeoJSON
- Best for: Fault mapping and earthquake risk modeling
Global Flood Hazard Maps
The Global Flood Hazard Maps from UNEP GAR provide flood inundation extents for riverine and coastal flooding at 10-yr to 500-yr return periods.
- Resolution: ~90m to 1km
- Best for: Flood risk assessment and emergency planning
NASA FIRMS Wildfire & Hotspots
NASA FIRMS provides real-time and historical active fire data from MODIS (1km) and VIIRS (375m) satellites for global wildfire monitoring.
- Update frequency: Near-real-time (3-hourly)
- Best for: Wildfire monitoring and burn scar assessment
Smithsonian GVP Volcano Database
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database provides ~1,500 Holocene volcano entries with location, type, eruption history, and hazard metadata.
- Format: CSV / KML
- Best for: Volcanic hazard mapping and research
IBTrACS Tropical Cyclones
The IBTrACS dataset provides global hurricane, typhoon, and cyclone track data from 1842 to present with wind speed, pressure, and storm status.
- Temporal: 1842–present
- Best for: Hurricane research and climate change analysis
Combining Hazard Datasets
- Layer faults and earthquakes for seismic risk analysis.
- Combine flood maps with population data for exposure assessment.
- Use GeoDataViewer Studio to overlay hazard layers with building footprints and infrastructure data.