ATRACKCS is a Python package designed for the automatic identification and tracking of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS). MCSs are large, organized cloud clusters responsible for significant regional rainfall and often exhibit deep vertical development reaching the mid-to-upper troposphere. Understanding the spatio-temporal characteristics of MCS is essential for mitigating the risks associated with intense precipitation and improving knowledge of weather and regional climate patterns. This algorithm serves as a valuable resource for researchers and students aiming to analyze MCS evolution and distribution.

Here's an example of how ATRACKCS tracked an MCS on the Pacific coast of Colombia.

ATRACKCS_example

 

Team member Vanessa collaborated with colleagues at the Universidad de Antioquia in Colombia to develop ATRACKCS. Building on this, the AWHA Lab is now employing ATRACKCS to investigate MCSs responsible for flash flooding. Our work also involves evaluating the skill of models in predicting these MCSs and further developing ATRACKCS to ingest not just satellite observations, but also data from numerical weather predictions and radar.


More information about ATRACKCS can be found here: https://github.com/ATRACKCS/ATRACKCS

Publications using ATRACKCS: 

  • Feng, Z., Prein, A. F., Kukulies, J., Fiolleau, T., Jones, W. K., Maybee, B., Moon, Z., Núñez Ocasio, K. M., Dong, W., Molina, M. J., Albright, M. G., Rajagopal, M., Robledo, V., Song, J., Song, F., Leung, L. R., Varble, A., Klein, C., Roca, R., Feng, R., & Mejia, J. F. (2025). Mesoscale Convective Systems tracking Method Intercomparison (MCSMIP): Application to DYAMOND Global km-scale Simulations. Journal of Geophysical research: Atmospheres. [Accepted]. DOI:10.1029/2024JD042204
  • Hernández, K. S., Henao, J. J., Gómez-Ríos, S., Robledo, V., Rendón, A. M., & Mejia, J. F. (2025). Spatio-Temporal Representation of Mesoscale Convective Systems in Convection-Permitting Simulations over Northwestern South America: insights into rainfall overestimation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. [Accepted]. DOI: 10.1029/2024JD042289
  • Robledo, V., Henao, J. J., Mejía, J. F., Ramírez‐Cardona, Á., Hernández, K. S., Gómez‐Ríos, S., & Rendón, Á. M. (2024). Climatological tracking and lifecycle characteristics of mesoscale convective systems in Northwestern South America. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129(19), e2024JD041159. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1029/2024JD041159