This paper exploits sink mobility to prolong the lifetime of sensor networks while maintaining the data transmission delay relatively low. A location predictive and time adaptive data gathering scheme is proposed. In this paper, we introduce a sink location prediction principle based on loose time synchronization and deduce the time-location formulas of the mobile sink. According to local clocks and the time-location formulas of the mobile sink, nodes in the network are able to calculate the current location of the mobile sink accurately and route data packets timely toward the mobile sink by multihop relay. Considering that data packets generating from different areas may be different greatly, an adaptive dwelling time adjustment method is also proposed to balance energy consumption among nodes in the network. Simulation results show that our data gathering scheme enables data routing with less data transmission time delay and balance energy consumption among nodes. ; Science and Technology Pillar Program of Changzhou (Social Development) [CE20135052] ; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [HEUCF140803] ; Instituto de Telecomunicacoes, Next Generation Networks and Applications Group (NetGNA), Covilha Delegation ; Government of Russian Federation [074-U01] ; FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [Pest-OE/EEI/LA0008/2013] ; Zhu, C.; Wang, Y.; Han, G.; Rodrigues, JJPC.; Lloret, J. (2014). LPTA: Location predictive and time adaptive data gathering scheme with mobile sink for wireless sensor networks. Scientific World Journal. doi:10.1155/2014/476253. ; Senia