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MPTRAC

Name: MPTRAC
Author: MPTRAC

Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb

What MPTRAC is

MPTRAC is a Lagrangian particle dispersion model for studying atmospheric transport in the free troposphere and stratosphere. It calculates forward and backward air-parcel trajectories from meteorological wind fields, with stochastic diffusion, subgrid wind variability, and mixing between parcels. Optional parameterizations cover convection, sedimentation, decay, gas-phase and aqueous-phase chemistry, and wet and dry deposition. Listed research applications include long-range pollutant transport, volcanic ash dispersion, tracer experiments, and atmospheric chemistry.

The browser-based Web Runner can configure, run, visualize, and download simulations without local installation. It offers forecast and reanalysis datasets, but limits runs to 10,000 parcels, 30 days, and 10 minutes of model runtime. For larger-scale work, MPTRAC supports hybrid MPI, OpenMP, and OpenACC parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems. It requires meteorological input, normally netCDF files on a regular pressure, longitude, and latitude grid. The GPL-3.0 software is free; it is available for Linux, self-hosted use, and the web.

Who it suits

MPTRAC suits researchers studying atmospheric transport, including pollutant movement, volcanic ash, tracer experiments, or atmospheric chemistry. The Web Runner may suit those who want to run and visualize limited simulations without local installation.

What it does well

Free software under the GPL-3.0 license
Web Runner works without local installation
Supports forward and backward trajectories
Optional chemistry and deposition parameterizations
Hybrid parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems

What to know first

Web Runner caps runs at 10,000 parcels
Web Runner limits simulations to 30 days
Web Runner allows 10 minutes of runtime
Requires meteorological input data

Limits

The free Web Runner limits each simulation to 10,000 air parcels, 30 days and 10 minutes of model runtime. Local runs require meteorological input data, normally supplied as netCDF files on a regular pressure, longitude and latitude grid.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Open-source MPTRAC	GNU General Public License v3.0 · Linux installation from source or binaries · Browser-based Web Runner available	On request
MPTRAC	GPL-3.0 software · Web Runner: maximum 10,000 air parcels, 30-day simulation duration, 10-minute model runtime	Free

As slcs-jsc.github.io lists them, read 23 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the MPTRAC website.
For browser-based use, open the Web Runner and set up a simulation.
Choose an available forecast or reanalysis dataset in the Web Runner.
Run the simulation, visualize the results and download them.
For local use, install MPTRAC on Linux or a self-hosted system and provide meteorological input data.

Verdict

MPTRAC combines trajectory modeling, optional atmospheric process parameterizations, and multiple output formats for research use. Its browser runner offers a no-install route, with explicit limits on simulation size and runtime.

Questions

Is MPTRAC free?

Yes. MPTRAC is free and distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

Can I run MPTRAC in a browser?

Yes. Its Web Runner can set up and run simulations, visualize results and download them without local installation.

What are the Web Runner limits?

A run is limited to 10,000 air parcels, 30 days and 10 minutes of model runtime.

What data does MPTRAC require?

The model requires meteorological input data, normally netCDF files on a regular pressure, longitude and latitude grid.

Which platforms and computing options does MPTRAC support?

Listed platforms are Linux, self-hosted and web. It supports hybrid MPI, OpenMP and OpenACC parallelization for clusters and GPU-enabled systems; OpenMP is always enabled.

What integrations and output formats are available?

Documentation describes visualization interfaces for Gnuplot and ParaView, plus output formats that support integration with CLaMS. Outputs include particle, gridded, mass budget, ensemble, profile, sample, station and VTK data.

Facts from MPTRAC's own pages

Assessment tools: No · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
Authoring tools: No · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
Data export: Yes · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
Delivery mode: hybrid · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 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, 7 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany · slcs-jsc.github.io, 19 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, 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, 7 Oct 2026
Lesson library: No · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 2026
License: The repository states that MPTRAC is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Offline access: Yes · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 7 Oct 2026
Support: The project directs questions, support, and collaboration inquiries to Dr. Lars Hoffmann at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
3D visuals: Yes · slcs-jsc.github.io, 23 Sept 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. · slcs-jsc.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Web Runner: The browser-based Web Runner can set up, run, visualize, and download trajectory simulation results without local installation. · mptrac.jsc.fz-juelich.de, 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. · mptrac.jsc.fz-juelich.de, 7 Oct 2026
Web Runner limits: The Web Runner limits simulations to 10,000 air parcels, 30 days, and 10 minutes of model runtime. · mptrac.jsc.fz-juelich.de, 7 Oct 2026

Where MPTRAC stands on Freedom251

Physics Simulation Software#8 of 89