perf: reduce idle CPU from pulse animation loop

- Add 60s startup cooldown to suppress pulse during initial data hydration
- Consolidate pulse lifecycle into syncPulseAnimation() across all setters
- Replace static predicates (h.level=high, c.maxSeverity=high) with dynamic-only
  checks: recent news, recent ACLED riots (<2h), breaking hotspots
- Exclude GDELT riots from pulse gating (noisy, not actionable)
- Reduce pulse interval from 250ms to 500ms (halves layer rebuild rate)
- Pause pulse when render is paused (country brief overlay)
- Add latestRiotEventTimeMs to MapProtestCluster with raw protest fallback
- Add Playwright tests for startup cooldown and lifecycle start/stop/GDELT exclusion

e2e/map-harness.spec.ts

@@ -20,7 +20,18 @@ type HarnessWindow = Window & {
     variant: 'full' | 'tech';
     seedAllDynamicData: () => void;
     setProtestsScenario: (scenario: 'alpha' | 'beta') => void;
+    setPulseProtestsScenario: (
+      scenario:
+        | 'none'
+        | 'recent-acled-riot'
+        | 'recent-gdelt-riot'
+        | 'recent-protest'
+    ) => void;
+    setNewsPulseScenario: (scenario: 'none' | 'recent' | 'stale') => void;
     setHotspotActivityScenario: (scenario: 'none' | 'breaking') => void;
+    forcePulseStartupElapsed: () => void;
+    resetPulseStartupTime: () => void;
+    isPulseAnimationRunning: () => boolean;
     setZoom: (zoom: number) => void;
     setLayersForSnapshot: (enabledLayers: string[]) => void;
     setCamera: (camera: { lon: number; lat: number; zoom: number }) => void;
@@ -270,6 +281,96 @@ test.describe('DeckGL map harness', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test('suppresses pulse animation during startup cooldown even with recent signals', async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await waitForHarnessReady(page);
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      w.__mapHarness?.setHotspotActivityScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.setPulseProtestsScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.setNewsPulseScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.resetPulseStartupTime();
+      w.__mapHarness?.setNewsPulseScenario('recent');
+    });
+
+    await page.waitForTimeout(800);
+
+    const isRunning = await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      return w.__mapHarness?.isPulseAnimationRunning() ?? false;
+    });
+
+    expect(isRunning).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test('starts and stops pulse on dynamic signals and ignores gdelt-only riot recency', async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await waitForHarnessReady(page);
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      w.__mapHarness?.setHotspotActivityScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.setPulseProtestsScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.setNewsPulseScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.forcePulseStartupElapsed();
+      w.__mapHarness?.setNewsPulseScenario('recent');
+    });
+
+    await expect
+      .poll(async () => {
+        return await page.evaluate(() => {
+          const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+          return w.__mapHarness?.isPulseAnimationRunning() ?? false;
+        });
+      }, { timeout: 10000 })
+      .toBe(true);
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      w.__mapHarness?.setNewsPulseScenario('stale');
+      w.__mapHarness?.setHotspotActivityScenario('none');
+      w.__mapHarness?.setPulseProtestsScenario('none');
+    });
+
+    await expect
+      .poll(async () => {
+        return await page.evaluate(() => {
+          const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+          return w.__mapHarness?.isPulseAnimationRunning() ?? false;
+        });
+      }, { timeout: 10000 })
+      .toBe(false);
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      w.__mapHarness?.setPulseProtestsScenario('recent-gdelt-riot');
+    });
+
+    await page.waitForTimeout(800);
+    const gdeltPulseRunning = await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      return w.__mapHarness?.isPulseAnimationRunning() ?? false;
+    });
+    expect(gdeltPulseRunning).toBe(false);
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+      w.__mapHarness?.setPulseProtestsScenario('recent-acled-riot');
+    });
+
+    await expect
+      .poll(async () => {
+        return await page.evaluate(() => {
+          const w = window as HarnessWindow;
+          return w.__mapHarness?.isPulseAnimationRunning() ?? false;
+        });
+      }, { timeout: 10000 })
+      .toBe(true);
+  });
+
   test('matches golden screenshots per layer and zoom', async ({ page }) => {
     test.setTimeout(180_000);
 

src/App.ts

@@ -598,6 +598,7 @@ export class App {
 
   public async openCountryBriefByCode(code: string, country: string): Promise<void> {
     if (!this.countryBriefPage) return;
+    this.map?.setRenderPaused(true);
 
     // Normalize to canonical name (GeoJSON may use "United States of America" etc.)
     const canonicalName = TIER1_COUNTRIES[code] || App.resolveCountryName(code);

src/components/DeckGLMap.ts

@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
   private lastSCBoundsKey = '';
   private lastSCMask = '';
   private newsPulseIntervalId: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+  private readonly startupTime = Date.now();
   private lastCableHighlightSignature = '';
   private lastPipelineHighlightSignature = '';
   private debouncedRebuildLayers: () => void;
@@ -271,10 +272,12 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
     this.rebuildDatacenterSupercluster();
 
     this.debouncedRebuildLayers = debounce(() => {
+      if (this.renderPaused) return;
       this.maplibreMap?.resize();
       this.deckOverlay?.setProps({ layers: this.buildLayers() });
     }, 150);
     this.rafUpdateLayers = rafSchedule(() => {
+      if (this.renderPaused) return;
       this.deckOverlay?.setProps({ layers: this.buildLayers() });
     });
 
@@ -618,6 +621,11 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
           const verifiedCount = Number(props.verifiedCount ?? 0);
           const totalFatalities = Number(props.totalFatalities ?? 0);
           const clusterCount = Number(f.properties.point_count ?? items.length);
+          const latestRiotEventTimeMs = items.reduce((max, it) => {
+            if (it.eventType !== 'riot' || it.sourceType === 'gdelt') return max;
+            const ts = it.time.getTime();
+            return Number.isFinite(ts) ? Math.max(max, ts) : max;
+          }, 0);
           return {
             id: `pc-${f.properties.cluster_id}`,
             lat: coords[1], lon: coords[0],
@@ -626,6 +634,7 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
             country: String(props.country ?? items[0]?.country ?? ''),
             maxSeverity: maxSev as 'low' | 'medium' | 'high',
             hasRiot: riotCount > 0,
+            latestRiotEventTimeMs: latestRiotEventTimeMs || undefined,
             totalFatalities,
             riotCount,
             highSeverityCount,
@@ -638,6 +647,10 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
           id: `pp-${f.properties.index}`, lat: item.lat, lon: item.lon,
           count: 1, items: [item], country: item.country,
           maxSeverity: item.severity, hasRiot: item.eventType === 'riot',
+          latestRiotEventTimeMs:
+            item.eventType === 'riot' && item.sourceType !== 'gdelt' && Number.isFinite(item.time.getTime())
+              ? item.time.getTime()
+              : undefined,
           totalFatalities: item.fatalities ?? 0,
           riotCount: item.eventType === 'riot' ? 1 : 0,
           highSeverityCount: item.severity === 'high' ? 1 : 0,
@@ -1877,19 +1890,50 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
 
   private pulseTime = 0;
 
-  private needsPulseAnimation(): boolean {
-    return this.hasRecentNews(Date.now())
-      || this.protestClusters.some(c => c.maxSeverity === 'high' || c.hasRiot)
-      || this.hotspots.some(h => h.level === 'high' || h.hasBreaking);
+  private canPulse(now = Date.now()): boolean {
+    return now - this.startupTime > 60_000;
+  }
+
+  private hasRecentRiot(now = Date.now(), windowMs = 2 * 60 * 60 * 1000): boolean {
+    const hasRecentClusterRiot = this.protestClusters.some(c =>
+      c.hasRiot && c.latestRiotEventTimeMs != null && (now - c.latestRiotEventTimeMs) < windowMs
+    );
+    if (hasRecentClusterRiot) return true;
+
+    // Fallback to raw protests because syncPulseAnimation can run before cluster data refreshes.
+    return this.protests.some((p) => {
+      if (p.eventType !== 'riot' || p.sourceType === 'gdelt') return false;
+      const ts = p.time.getTime();
+      return Number.isFinite(ts) && (now - ts) < windowMs;
+    });
+  }
+
+  private needsPulseAnimation(now = Date.now()): boolean {
+    return this.hasRecentNews(now)
+      || this.hasRecentRiot(now)
+      || this.hotspots.some(h => h.hasBreaking);
+  }
+
+  private syncPulseAnimation(now = Date.now()): void {
+    if (this.renderPaused) {
+      if (this.newsPulseIntervalId !== null) this.stopPulseAnimation();
+      return;
+    }
+    const shouldPulse = this.canPulse(now) && this.needsPulseAnimation(now);
+    if (shouldPulse && this.newsPulseIntervalId === null) {
+      this.startPulseAnimation();
+    } else if (!shouldPulse && this.newsPulseIntervalId !== null) {
+      this.stopPulseAnimation();
+    }
   }
 
   private startPulseAnimation(): void {
     if (this.newsPulseIntervalId !== null) return;
-    const PULSE_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 250;
+    const PULSE_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 500;
 
     this.newsPulseIntervalId = setInterval(() => {
       const now = Date.now();
-      if (!this.needsPulseAnimation()) {
+      if (!this.needsPulseAnimation(now)) {
         this.pulseTime = now;
         this.stopPulseAnimation();
         this.rafUpdateLayers();
@@ -2649,7 +2693,14 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
   }
 
   public setRenderPaused(paused: boolean): void {
+    if (this.renderPaused === paused) return;
     this.renderPaused = paused;
+    if (paused) {
+      this.stopPulseAnimation();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.syncPulseAnimation();
     if (!paused && this.renderPending) {
       this.renderPending = false;
       this.render();
@@ -2657,6 +2708,7 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
   }
 
   private updateLayers(): void {
+    if (this.renderPaused) return;
     const startTime = performance.now();
     if (this.deckOverlay) {
       this.deckOverlay.setProps({ layers: this.buildLayers() });
@@ -2846,9 +2898,7 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
     this.protests = events;
     this.rebuildProtestSupercluster();
     this.render();
-    if (this.needsPulseAnimation() && this.newsPulseIntervalId === null) {
-      this.startPulseAnimation();
-    }
+    this.syncPulseAnimation();
   }
 
   public setFlightDelays(delays: AirportDelayAlert[]): void {
@@ -2912,12 +2962,7 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
     this.newsLocations = data;
     this.render();
 
-    const hasRecent = this.hasRecentNews(now);
-    if (hasRecent && this.newsPulseIntervalId === null) {
-      this.startPulseAnimation();
-    } else if (!hasRecent) {
-      this.stopPulseAnimation();
-    }
+    this.syncPulseAnimation(now);
   }
 
   public updateHotspotActivity(news: NewsItem[]): void {
@@ -2952,9 +2997,7 @@ export class DeckGLMap {
     });
 
     this.render();
-    if (this.needsPulseAnimation() && this.newsPulseIntervalId === null) {
-      this.startPulseAnimation();
-    }
+    this.syncPulseAnimation();
   }
 
   /** Get news items related to a hotspot by keyword matching */

src/e2e/map-harness.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ import type { WeatherAlert } from '../services/weather';
 type Scenario = 'alpha' | 'beta';
 type HarnessVariant = 'full' | 'tech';
 type HarnessLayerKey = keyof MapLayers;
+type PulseProtestScenario =
+  | 'none'
+  | 'recent-acled-riot'
+  | 'recent-gdelt-riot'
+  | 'recent-protest';
+type NewsPulseScenario = 'none' | 'recent' | 'stale';
 
 type LayerSnapshot = {
   id: string;
@@ -85,7 +91,12 @@ type MapHarness = {
   variant: HarnessVariant;
   seedAllDynamicData: () => void;
   setProtestsScenario: (scenario: Scenario) => void;
+  setPulseProtestsScenario: (scenario: PulseProtestScenario) => void;
+  setNewsPulseScenario: (scenario: NewsPulseScenario) => void;
   setHotspotActivityScenario: (scenario: 'none' | 'breaking') => void;
+  forcePulseStartupElapsed: () => void;
+  resetPulseStartupTime: () => void;
+  isPulseAnimationRunning: () => boolean;
   setZoom: (zoom: number) => void;
   setLayersForSnapshot: (enabledLayers: HarnessLayerKey[]) => void;
   setCamera: (camera: CameraState) => void;
@@ -208,7 +219,9 @@ const internals = map as unknown as {
   lastClusterState?: Map<string, unknown>;
   maplibreMap?: MapLibreMap;
   newsLocationFirstSeen?: Map<string, number>;
-  stopNewsPulseAnimation?: () => void;
+  newsPulseIntervalId?: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null;
+  startupTime?: number;
+  stopPulseAnimation?: () => void;
 };
 
 const buildLayerState = (enabledLayers: HarnessLayerKey[]): MapLayers => {
@@ -616,6 +629,37 @@ const buildProtests = (scenario: Scenario): SocialUnrestEvent[] => {
   ];
 };
 
+const buildPulseProtests = (scenario: PulseProtestScenario): SocialUnrestEvent[] => {
+  if (scenario === 'none') return [];
+
+  const now = new Date();
+  const isRiot = scenario !== 'recent-protest';
+  const sourceType = scenario === 'recent-gdelt-riot' ? 'gdelt' : 'acled';
+
+  return [
+    {
+      id: `e2e-pulse-protest-${scenario}`,
+      title: `Pulse Protest ${scenario}`,
+      summary: `Pulse protest fixture: ${scenario}`,
+      eventType: isRiot ? 'riot' : 'protest',
+      city: 'Harness City',
+      country: 'Harnessland',
+      lat: 20.1,
+      lon: 0.2,
+      time: now,
+      severity: isRiot ? 'high' : 'medium',
+      fatalities: isRiot ? 1 : 0,
+      sources: ['e2e'],
+      sourceType,
+      tags: ['e2e', 'pulse'],
+      actors: ['Harness Group'],
+      relatedHotspots: [],
+      confidence: 'high',
+      validated: true,
+    },
+  ];
+};
+
 const buildHotspotActivityNews = (
   scenario: 'none' | 'breaking'
 ): NewsItem[] => {
@@ -887,7 +931,30 @@ const makeNewsLocationsNonRecent = (): void => {
       internals.newsLocationFirstSeen.set(key, now - 120_000);
     }
   }
-  internals.stopNewsPulseAnimation?.();
+  internals.stopPulseAnimation?.();
+};
+
+const setNewsPulseScenario = (scenario: NewsPulseScenario): void => {
+  if (scenario === 'none') {
+    internals.newsLocationFirstSeen?.clear();
+    map.setNewsLocations([]);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (scenario === 'recent') {
+    map.setNewsLocations([
+      {
+        lat: 48.85,
+        lon: 2.35,
+        title: `Harness Pulse News ${Date.now()}`,
+        threatLevel: 'high',
+      },
+    ]);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  map.setNewsLocations(SEEDED_NEWS_LOCATIONS);
+  makeNewsLocationsNonRecent();
 };
 
 let deterministicVisualModeEnabled = false;
@@ -1011,9 +1078,22 @@ window.__mapHarness = {
   setProtestsScenario: (scenario: Scenario): void => {
     map.setProtests(buildProtests(scenario));
   },
+  setPulseProtestsScenario: (scenario: PulseProtestScenario): void => {
+    map.setProtests(buildPulseProtests(scenario));
+  },
+  setNewsPulseScenario,
   setHotspotActivityScenario: (scenario: 'none' | 'breaking'): void => {
     map.updateHotspotActivity(buildHotspotActivityNews(scenario));
   },
+  forcePulseStartupElapsed: (): void => {
+    internals.startupTime = Date.now() - 61_000;
+  },
+  resetPulseStartupTime: (): void => {
+    internals.startupTime = Date.now();
+  },
+  isPulseAnimationRunning: (): boolean => {
+    return internals.newsPulseIntervalId != null;
+  },
   setZoom: (zoom: number): void => {
     map.setZoom(zoom);
     map.render();

src/types/index.ts

@@ -1146,6 +1146,7 @@ export interface MapProtestCluster {
   country: string;
   maxSeverity: 'low' | 'medium' | 'high';
   hasRiot: boolean;
+  latestRiotEventTimeMs?: number;
   totalFatalities: number;
   riotCount?: number;
   highSeverityCount?: number;