MPTRAC
MPTRAC is a free Lagrangian particle dispersion model for studying atmospheric transport in the free troposphere and stratosphere.
What MPTRAC 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 from meteorological wind fields, accounting for stochastic diffusion, subgrid wind variation, and mixing between parcels. Optional modules represent convection, sedimentation, decay, gas-phase and aqueous chemistry, and wet and dry deposition. Listed research uses include long-range pollutant transport, volcanic ash dispersion, tracer experiments, and atmospheric chemistry. The browser-based Web Runner can configure simulations, run them, visualize results, and download output without local installation. A Web Runner run is capped at 10,000 air parcels, 30 days, and 10 minutes of model runtime. MPTRAC supports hybrid MPI, OpenMP, and OpenACC parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems; OpenMP is always enabled. It requires meteorological input, normally netCDF files on a regular pressure, longitude, and latitude grid. The GPL-3.0 software supports Linux installation from source or binaries and offers multiple output formats.
Good
- Calculates forward and backward air-parcel trajectories.
- Optional modules cover chemistry and deposition processes.
- Web Runner needs no local installation.
- Supports MPI, OpenMP, and OpenACC parallelization.
- Provides multiple output formats.
Watch out
- Web Runner caps simulations at 10,000 air parcels.
- Web Runner runtime is limited to 10 minutes.
- Requires meteorological input data.
Who it suits
MPTRAC suits atmospheric researchers working on transport, dispersion, tracer, or chemistry studies. Its Web Runner is an option for users who want to run and view a simulation without local installation, within its stated limits.
Verdict
MPTRAC combines atmospheric trajectory modeling with optional process modules and parallel computing support. The Web Runner offers a browser-based route, but its parcel, duration, and runtime limits apply.
Plans and prices
From MPTRAC's own pricing page, checked 23 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Open-source MPTRAC | — | GNU General Public License v3.0 · Linux installation from source or binaries · Browser-based Web Runner available |
| MPTRAC | Free | GPL-3.0 software · Web Runner: maximum 10,000 air parcels, 30-day simulation duration, 10-minute model runtime |
The facts
Each one read from MPTRAC's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 3D visuals
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Assessment tools
- Nochecked 23 Sep 2026
- Authoring tools
- Nochecked 23 Sep 2026
- Data export
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Delivery mode
- hybridchecked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Input requirements
- The model requires meteorological input data, normally supplied as netCDF files on a regular pressure, longitude, and latitude grid.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation describes visualization interfaces for Gnuplot and ParaView and output formats that support integration with the CLaMS model.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Lesson library
- Nochecked 23 Sep 2026
- License
- The repository states that MPTRAC is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Offline access
- Yeschecked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Parallel computing
- MPTRAC supports hybrid MPI, OpenMP, and OpenACC parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems; OpenMP is always enabled.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Process modules
- Optional parameterizations cover convection, sedimentation, exponential decay, gas-phase and aqueous-phase chemistry, and wet and dry deposition.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MPTRAC is a Lagrangian particle dispersion model for analyzing atmospheric transport in the free troposphere and stratosphere.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Research uses
- The project lists long-range pollutant transport, volcanic ash dispersion, tracer experiments, and atmospheric chemistry as typical applications.checked 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.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs questions, support, and collaboration inquiries to Dr. Lars Hoffmann at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Trajectory physics
- It computes forward or backward air parcel trajectories using meteorological wind fields and includes stochastic diffusion, subgrid wind variability, and inter-parcel mixing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Web Runner
- The browser-based Web Runner can set up, run, visualize, and download trajectory simulation results without local installation.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Web Runner datasets
- The Web Runner offers ECMWF AIFS and IFS and NCEP GFS forecasts, plus ERA5, ERA-Interim, JRA-3Q, JRA-55, MERRA-2, and NCEP reanalyses.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Web Runner limits
- The Web Runner limits simulations to 10,000 air parcels, 30 days, and 10 minutes of model runtime.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germanychecked 19 Oct 2026
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