The last eleven years of wildfires plotted on the United States of America: a visualization by John Nelson based on MODIS thermal imaging data. Note that at their hottest, some of these wildfires register as having put out as much energy as three nuclear plants (image credit: John Nelson/IDV Solutions). 

Earthquakes across the globe since 1898: a visualization by John Nelson based on historical NCEDC, USGS, and UC Berkeley data records (image credit: John Nelson/IDV Solutions).

Sixty one years of tornado tracks plotted on the United States of America, up through last year: a visualization by John Nelson based on historical NOAA data records (image credit: John Nelson/IDV Solutions).