Large-Scale Precipitation Tracking: Data Access

+++ Updated 19 May 2026 +++

LPT Code

The latest LPT code is publically available on GitHub here.

Summary

+++ The most reliable data to use is IMERG V7 if you are interested in 1998 - present and ERA5 if you need to look further back to 1940 +++

Contents

Example Python code for IMERG LPT data: html Jupyter Notebook.

This page provides access to the LPT system database used by Kerns and Chen (2020, JGR Atmospheres) (pdf). These data are for June 1998 - June 2018. NASA 3B42/TMPA data are used.

In the near future, I plan to add:

For more information and/or potential collaborations, feel free to contact me at bkerns AT uw.edu. I can also be reached via my Twitter handle @brandonwkerns.

Kerns and Chen (2020) TRMM/TMPA Data

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This table provides the text and NetCDF data, by year. These data are for June 1998 - June 2018. NASA 3B42/TMPA data are used.

The MJO LPT list is here: mjo_lpt_list.txt.

Year Text Track File NetCDF Track File

Updated TRMM/TMPA Data

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This table provides the text and NetCDF data, by year. These data are for January 1998 - December 2019. NASA 3B42/TMPA, Version 7 data are used.

Year Text Track File NetCDF Track File MJO List File Spatiotemporal Masks - Individual Systems Composite Mask Files - All MJO LPTs
1998 - 2000 lpt_systems_trmm_1998010400_2000063021.txt lpt_systems_trmm_1998010400_2000063021.nc mjo_lpt_list_trmm_1998010400_2000063021.txt 1998010400_2000063021 lpt_composite_mask_1998010400_2000063021_mjo_lpt.nc
2015 - 2019 lpt_systems_trmm_2015060100_2019123121.txt lpt_systems_trmm_2015060100_2019123121.nc mjo_lpt_list_trmm_2015060100_2019123121.txt 2015060100_2019123121 lpt_composite_mask_2015060100_2019123121_mjo_lpt.nc

LPT Using IMERG V7 (1998 - pres.)

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UPDATED: June 2025.

Multi-Year

IMERG V07 data is available from 1 Jan. 1998 to 31 near real time. The tracking begins with 4 Jan. 1998, because the method needs a 3-day accumulation period. The tracking is done for 5-year intervals, from June to June the following year, or subsets thereof. There is a 1 month overlap (June 1 - 30) between consecutive tracking time periods, in case LPT systems get cut off by the tracking ending in June.

Years Text Track File NetCDF Track File MJO List File Spatiotemporal Masks - Individual Systems Composite Mask Files - All MJO LPTs
1998 - 2000 lpt_systems_imerg_v7_1998010400_2000063023.txt lpt_systems_imerg_v7_1998010400_2000063023.nc mjo_lpt_list_imerg_v7_1998010400_2000063023.txt 1998010400_2000063023 lpt_composite_mask_1998010400_2000063023_mjo_lpt.nc
2025 - pres. lpt_systems_imerg_v7_2025060100_2026043023.txt lpt_systems_imerg_v7_2025060100_2026043023.nc mjo_lpt_list_imerg_v7_2025060100_2026043023.txt 2025060100_2026043023 lpt_composite_mask_2025060100_2026043023_mjo_lpt.nc

Link to near real-time data (40 day periods): here.

LPT Using ERA5 (1940 - pres.)

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UPDATED: June 2025.

Multi-Year

5-year increments, or subsets therof.

ERA5 hourly precipitation data is available from 1 Jan. 1940 to near present. The tracking begins with 1 June 1940. The tracking is done for 5-year intervals, from June to June the following year, or subsets thereof. There is a 1 month overlap (June 1 - 30) between consecutive tracking time periods, in case LPT systems get cut off by the tracking ending in June.

Years Text Track File NetCDF Track File MJO List File Spatiotemporal Masks - Individual Systems Composite Mask Files - All MJO LPTs
2025 - pres. lpt_systems_era5_2025060100_2026043023.txt lpt_systems_era5_2025060100_2026043023.nc mjo_lpt_list_era5_2025060100_2026043023.txt 2025060100_2026043023 lpt_composite_mask_2025060100_2026043023_mjo_lpt.nc