diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 7925846b8..2b54df587 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ env:
     - BUILD_TYPE=Debug
     - TECA_DIR=/travis_teca_dir
     - TECA_PYTHON_VERSION=3
-    - TECA_DATA_REVISION=127
+    - TECA_DATA_REVISION=139
   jobs:
     - DOCKER_IMAGE=ubuntu IMAGE_VERSION=20.04 IMAGE_NAME=ubuntu_20_04 REQUIRE_NETCDF_MPI=TRUE
     - DOCKER_IMAGE=ubuntu IMAGE_VERSION=20.04 IMAGE_NAME=ubuntu_20_04 REQUIRE_NETCDF_MPI=FALSE
diff --git a/python/teca_py_alg.i b/python/teca_py_alg.i
index ffa7b3971..792516d87 100644
--- a/python/teca_py_alg.i
+++ b/python/teca_py_alg.i
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "teca_descriptive_statistics.h"
 #include "teca_evaluate_expression.h"
 #include "teca_elevation_mask.h"
+#include "teca_gradient.h"
 #include "teca_integrated_vapor_transport.h"
 #include "teca_indexed_dataset_cache.h"
 #include "teca_l2_norm.h"
@@ -143,6 +144,14 @@
 %ignore teca_vorticity::operator=;
 %include "teca_vorticity.h"
 
+/***************************************************************************
+ gradient
+ ***************************************************************************/
+%ignore teca_gradient::shared_from_this;
+%shared_ptr(teca_gradient)
+%ignore teca_gradient::operator=;
+%include "teca_gradient.h"
+
 /***************************************************************************
  derived_quantity
  ***************************************************************************/
diff --git a/test/python/CMakeLists.txt b/test/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 0a696f808..9cf7f0d98 100644
--- a/test/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -503,3 +503,9 @@ teca_add_test(py_test_cartesian_mesh_multi_dim
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_cartesian_mesh_multi_dim.py 32 32 10
     test_cartesian_mesh_multi_dim.nc 1
     FEATURES ${TECA_HAS_CUDA})
+
+teca_add_test(py_test_gradient
+    COMMAND ${PYTHON_EXECUTABLE}
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/test_gradient.py 
+        "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/teca_gradient_test_input.nc"
+        "${TECA_DATA_ROOT}/teca_gradient_baseline.nc")
diff --git a/test/python/test_gradient.py b/test/python/test_gradient.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f83bb91f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/python/test_gradient.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+from mpi4py import MPI
+from teca import *
+import os
+import sys
+
+
+if not len(sys.argv) == 3:
+    sys.stderr.write('test_apply_binary_mask.py [input_file] [baseline_file] \n')
+    sys.exit(-1)
+input_file = sys.argv[1]
+baseline_file = sys.argv[2]
+
+
+# create the reader
+mesh_data_reader = teca_cf_reader.New()
+mesh_data_reader.set_files_regex(input_file)
+
+# create the gradient calculation
+grad = teca_gradient.New()
+grad.set_scalar_field('p')
+grad.set_gradient_field_x('grad_p_x')
+grad.set_gradient_field_y('grad_p_y')
+grad.set_input_connection(mesh_data_reader.get_output_port())
+
+# create the executive
+exec = teca_index_executive.New()
+point_arrays = ["grad_p_x","grad_p_y"]
+exec.set_arrays(point_arrays)
+
+# check whether we should be generating the test
+do_test = 1
+try:
+    do_test = int(os.environ["TECA_DO_TEST"])
+except:
+    pass
+
+# do the test if flagged
+if do_test and os.path.exists(baseline_file):
+    baseline_reader = teca_cf_reader.New()
+    baseline_reader.set_files_regex(baseline_file)
+
+    # check the difference with the baseline dataset
+    diff = teca_dataset_diff.New()
+    diff.set_input_connection(0, baseline_reader.get_output_port())
+    diff.set_input_connection(1, grad.get_output_port())
+    diff.set_executive(exec)
+    diff.set_verbose(1)
+
+    diff.update()
+# otherwise generate the baseline file
+else:
+    writer = teca_cf_writer.New()
+    writer.set_input_connection(grad.get_output_port())
+    writer.set_thread_pool_size(1)
+    #writer.set_executive(exec)
+    writer.set_point_arrays(point_arrays)
+    writer.set_file_name(baseline_file)
+    writer.update()
+    sys.exit(-1)
+
+sys.exit(0)