# ASPECT Newsletter #186 **URL:** \ **Category:** ASPECT\ **Created:** [December 13, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.geodynamics.org/t/aspect-newsletter-186/3201 "2023-12-13T20:02:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rgassmoeller](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/community.geodynamics.org/rgassmoeller/32/49_2.png) [@rgassmoeller](https://community.geodynamics.org/u/rgassmoeller)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2023, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.geodynamics.org/t/aspect-newsletter-186/3201/1 "2023-12-13T20:02:13Z")
Hello everyone! This is ASPECT newsletter #186. It automatically reports recently merged features and discussions about the ASPECT mantle convection code. Below you find a list of recently proposed or merged features: [#5521](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5521): Fix comment output undeformed mesh (implemented by [anne-glerum](https://github.com/anne-glerum); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5520](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5520): Use the deepest initial lithostatic pressure on the bottom traction boundary (implemented by [anne-glerum](https://github.com/anne-glerum)) [#5519](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5519): Fix tester warning (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth)) [#5518](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5518): Avoid the use of plugin\_type\_matches() where not appropriate. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5517](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5517): Add an assertion. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5516](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5516): Make better use of Plugins::plugin\_type\_matches(). (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei)) [#5515](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5515): Sort the order of base classes. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5514](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5514): Add assertions. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5513](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5513): Better describe what a piece of code is doing. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5511](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5511): Remove an unused function from two geometry models. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5510](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5510): Adds new publications for November (implemented by [ljhwang](https://github.com/ljhwang); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5509](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5509): Update point\_is\_in\_domain function (implemented by [anne-glerum](https://github.com/anne-glerum)) [#5508](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5508): update parameters (implemented by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5507](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5507): [WIP] interpolate into non-ghosted vector to avoid assert (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5506](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5506): Return user-set maximum topography when the initial topography model Function is asked for the max topography (implemented by [anne-glerum](https://github.com/anne-glerum)) [#5503](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5503): Make sure stuff in compat.h/cc is guarded by a deal.II version. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5502](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5502): Update particle benchmark documentation (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth)) [#5501](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5501): Avoid the use of raw pointers. Use std::unique\_ptr instead. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5499](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5499): Fix for git incompatibility (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei)) [#5498](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5498): Switch reference tester to deal.II 9.5 (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5497](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5497): Towards a SphericalShellWithTopography. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5496](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5496): Fix tester artifact upload (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei)) [#5495](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5495): Add NETCDF\_DIR variable to tester image (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei)) [#5493](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5493): Make a variable ‘unsigned’. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5492](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5492): The handwritten import() method is removed as it is now a part of Tri… (implemented by [vyushut](https://github.com/vyushut); reviewed by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei)) [#5491](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5491): Update tester images with netcdf (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5490](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5490): update parameters (implemented by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5486](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5486): enable netCDF by default (implemented by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5485](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5485): Jenkins: enable netcdf (implemented by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5484](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5484): support netcdf in prm files (implemented by [tjhei](https://github.com/tjhei); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#5481](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5481): Treat noflow boundaries as inflow (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth)) [#5480](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5480): Fix elastic stress used in principal\_stress postprocessor (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth)) [#5478](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5478): Fix particle rk4 integration box periodicity correction (implemented by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller); reviewed by [MFraters](https://github.com/MFraters)) [#5474](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/5474): Create a manifold for the spherical shell that can accommodate an initial topography. (implemented by [bangerth](https://github.com/bangerth); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) [#4375](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/pull/4375): fixed stress visualization for elastic materials (implemented by [bobmyhill](https://github.com/bobmyhill); reviewed by [gassmoeller](https://github.com/gassmoeller)) And this is a list of recently opened or closed discussions: [#5512](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/issues/5512) CI: Avoid error message in CI output (opened and closed) [#5505](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/issues/5505) Unable to set checkpoints using mpi (opened) [#5504](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/issues/5504) MGTransfer asserts on deal.II master (opened) [#5500](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/issues/5500) ‘Allow fixed composition/temperature on outflow boundaries’ does not work correctly in time step zero, iteration 0 with open boundary (opened) [#5494](https://github.com/geodynamics/aspect/issues/5494) documentation: weird double scrollbars (opened) A list of all major changes since the last release can be found at [this website](https://aspect.geodynamics.org/doc/doxygen/changes_current.html). Thanks for being part of the community! Let us know about questions, problems, bugs or just share your experience by visting our [forum](https://community.geodynamics.org/c/aspect), or by opening issues or pull requests on [Github](https://www.github.com/geodynamics/aspect). Additional information can be found at our [official website](https://aspect.geodynamics.org/), and CIG’s [ASPECT website](https://geodynamics.org/cig/software/aspect/).