[CIG-ALL] CIG News - July 2009

[Sue Kientz]

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                        CIG News:  July 2009
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Also available at
http://geodynamics.org/cig/proposalsndocs/newsdocs/newsletter-july09
*
CIG Software Releases*

   * CitcomS 3.1.1 - CitcomS is a finite element code designed to solve 
thermal convection problems relevant to Earth's mantle. In mid-June, the 
3.1.0 release debuted, which offered many new features and fixed several 
bugs in the code and manual (the release announcement at 
http://geodynamics.org/pipermail/cig-all/2009-June/000116.html has full 
details). The bug-fix 3.1.1 release followed two weeks later to add 
files missing from Cookbook 10. See 
http://geodynamics.org/cig/software/packages/mc/citcoms/ for source code 
and manual. You can also run this latest version of CitcomS on the 
TeraGrid; see http://geodynamics.org/cig/software/csa/ .

   * PyLith 1.4.0 - PyLith is a finite element code for the solution of 
visco-elastic/plastic deformation that was designed for lithospheric 
modeling problems. New features adds several new features to PyLith, 
including a Power-law nonlinear bulk rheology; integration with PETSc 
nonlinear solvers; automatic nondimensionalization of all parameters; 
parsing of units in spatial database files; a common time-dependent 
formulation for Dirichlet, Neumann, and point force boundary conditions; 
pylithinfo, a diagnostic utility that dumps the current hierarchy of 
PyLith parameters to a file; and replacement of Pyrex/Pyrexembed with 
SWIG. Nondimensionalization of the problem restores the symmetry of the 
Jacobian matrix, which significantly reduces memory use (the release 
announcement at 
http://geodynamics.org/pipermail/cig-all/2009-July/000118.html has full 
details). All PyLith users should switch to this latest release.The 
manual has also been updated for the new features and revised based on 
feedback from users. See 
http://geodynamics.org/cig/software/packages/short/pylith/ for source 
code, binaries, and manual.

   * SNAC 1.1.0 - SNAC (StGermaiN Analysis of Continua) is an updated 
Lagrangian explicit finite difference code for modeling a finitely 
deforming elasto-visco-plastic solid in 3D. In this update, 
post-processing is improved; checkpointing is activated; the code 
generating restart files is improved thanks to Colin Stark; a new plugin 
(hillSlope) for landslide problems is included, donated by Colin Stark; 
and unnecessary dependencies are disabled and obsolete plugins removed. 
See http://geodynamics.org/cig/software/packages/long/snac/ for source 
code and updated manual.

*CIG-II Draft Online; Request Comments, Suggestions*

   *  The Proposal Writing Committee (PWC) is soliciting community 
review, comments, and suggestions on its draft proposal documents for 
CIG II, which they are preparing for NSF. Please assist the PWC by 
visiting http://geodynamics.org/cig/proposalsndocs/blogs/cig2-proposal 
and downloading and reviewing both the proposal and the supplementary 
material, and returning to that page to post your comments. CIG greatly 
appreciates your feedback and thanks you in advance for your comments 
and suggestions.

*EC Selects Next Director*

    * The Executive Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of 
Prof. Louise Kellogg of University of California, Davis, as the next 
Director of CIG. Louise was the most highly nominated candidate, and 
brings considerable experience in computational geodynamics, software 
development (through CIG and KeckCaves) and administration. We are 
confident that Louise will provide the critical leadership that CIG 
needs to take us through the proposal renewal and into the next exciting 
phase of CIG development.
*
Workshop Presentations/Tutorials Now Online*

    * 2009 Workshop on Numerical Modeling of Crustal Deformation and 
Earthquake Faulting, June 22-26, 2009, Golden, CO. The focus of this 
gathering was on computational models addressing crustal deformation 
with an emphasis on the seismic cycle across single and multiple events. 
The workshop blended science talks on case studies from particular 
faulting environments and on key rheological behavior with discussions 
of current obstacles to crustal deformation modeling. The workshop's 
presentations and tutorials are now available at 
http://geodynamics.org/cig/workinggroups/short/workshops/nmcdef-09/agenda

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*Who to contact*

CIG Administration, contracts, travel, etc.:
Ariel Shoresh, (626) 395-1699
ariel at geodynamics.org

Equation solvers (PETSc) and PyLith development:
Matt Knepley, knepley at mcs.anl.gov

Gale and Magma development:
Walter Landry, (626) 395-4621
walter at geodynamics.org

Benchmarking, Cigma, and visualization:
Luis Armendariz, (626) 395-1695
luis at geodynamics.org

Build procedure and computational seismology:
Leif Strand, (626) 395-1697
leif at geodynamics.org

Citcom and Mantle convection benchmarks:
Eh Tan, (626) 395-1693,
tan2 at geodynamics.org

Website and user manuals:
Sue Kientz, (626) 395-1694
sue at geodynamics.org

SVN software repository and systems administration:
Jan Lindheim
cig-help at geodynamics.org

Software architecture and Pyre framework:
Michael Aivazis, (626) 395-1696
aivazis at caltech.edu

Administration:
Mike Gurnis, (626) 395-1698
gurnis at caltech.edu

Science Steering Committee: contact Chair
Louise Kellogg (UC Davis),
kellogg at geology.ucdavis.edu

Executive Committee: contact Chair
Marc Spiegelman (Columbia),
mspieg at lamont.ldeo.columbia.edu

-- 
Sue Kientz

Technical Writer/Web Manager
Computational Infrastructure of Geodynamics (CIG)
   http://www.geodynamics.org/
sue at geodynamics.org
ofc: (626) 395-1694
   ~Metaphors Be With You~
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