MPTRAC
MPTRAC · Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
What it is
MPTRAC is a free Lagrangian particle dispersion model for studying atmospheric transport in the free troposphere and stratosphere. It calculates forward or backward air-parcel trajectories using meteorological wind fields, with stochastic diffusion, subgrid wind variation, and mixing between parcels. Optional process modules cover convection, sedimentation, decay, gas-phase and aqueous-phase chemistry, and wet and dry deposition. Listed applications include long-range pollutant transport, volcanic ash dispersion, tracer experiments, and atmospheric chemistry. A browser-based Web Runner can configure simulations, run them, visualize results, and download outputs without local installation. Web Runner runs are limited to 10,000 air parcels, 30 days, and 10 minutes of model runtime. The model supports hybrid MPI, OpenMP, and OpenACC parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems; OpenMP is always enabled. It requires meteorological input, normally netCDF data on a regular pressure, longitude, and latitude grid. MPTRAC is distributed under GPL-3.0, and the project provides visualization interfaces for Gnuplot and ParaView.
For and against
For
- Free software distributed under GPL-3.0.
- Web Runner requires no local installation.
- Supports forward and backward trajectory calculations.
- Parallelization supports clusters and GPU-enabled systems.
Against
- Model runs require meteorological input data.
- Web Runner is capped at 10,000 air parcels.
- Web Runner runtime is limited to 10 minutes.
The verdict
MPTRAC offers atmospheric trajectory modeling, optional process modules, and multiple output and visualization options. The browser runner lowers setup needs but imposes limits on parcel count, simulation duration, and runtime.
Who it suits
MPTRAC suits atmospheric researchers studying transport, dispersion, or chemistry who can work with meteorological input data. Its Web Runner offers a browser-based option for simulations within the stated limits.
Plans and prices
Open-source MPTRAC
GNU General Public License v3.0 · Linux installation from source or binaries · Browser-based Web Runner available
Read 23 Sep 2026 · github.com
MPTRAC
GPL-3.0 software · Web Runner: maximum 10,000 air parcels, 30-day simulation duration, 10-minute model runtime
Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Assessment tools
- Noslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
- Authoring tools
- Noslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
- Data export
- Yesslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
- Delivery mode
- hybridslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
- Development binary limit
- Precompiled development binaries are for Linux x86_64, are commit snapshots rather than versioned releases, and are retained for 30 days.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Input requirements
- The model requires meteorological input data, normally supplied as netCDF files on a regular pressure, longitude, and latitude grid.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation describes visualization interfaces for Gnuplot and ParaView and output formats that support integration with the CLaMS model.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Lesson library
- Noslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
- License
- The repository states that MPTRAC is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Offline access
- Yesslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
- Output formats
- Supported model outputs include particle, gridded, mass budget, ensemble, profile, sample, station, and VTK data, with ASCII, binary, or netCDF options where documented.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Parallel computing
- MPTRAC supports hybrid MPI, OpenMP, and OpenACC parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems; OpenMP is always enabled.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Process modules
- Optional parameterizations cover convection, sedimentation, exponential decay, gas-phase and aqueous-phase chemistry, and wet and dry deposition.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MPTRAC is a Lagrangian particle dispersion model for analyzing atmospheric transport in the free troposphere and stratosphere.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Research uses
- The project lists long-range pollutant transport, volcanic ash dispersion, tracer experiments, and atmospheric chemistry as typical applications.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Security and trust
- The opened project pages describe the GPL license and provide a SHA-256 checksum for development binary artifacts; they do not state a security certification or compliance standard.slcs-jsc.github.io · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs questions, support, and collaboration inquiries to Dr. Lars Hoffmann at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- 3D visuals
- Yesslcs-jsc.github.io · read 23 Sep 2026
