# ACCESS-ISSM: Release Information **URL:** \ **Category:** ACCESS-NRI Releases\ **Tags:** release, model, access-issm\ **Created:** [16 September 2026 00:40 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-issm-release-information/6993 "2026-09-16T00:40:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mtetley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/mtetley/32/495_2.png) [@mtetley](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/mtetley)\ **Post date:** [16 September 2026 00:40 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-issm-release-information/6993/1 "2026-09-16T00:40:09Z")
# What is this? A topic that will be used to announce release information and updates for `ACCESS-ISSM`. # What is ACCESS-ISSM? `ACCESS-ISSM` is the supported release of the [Ice-sheet and Sea-level System Model](https://issm.jpl.nasa.gov/) (ISSM) optimised for NCI hardware. > **[GitHub - ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM: Deployment repository for ACCESS fork of ISSM...](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM)** > > Deployment repository for ACCESS fork of ISSM (Ice-sheet and Sea-level System Model). Admins: @headmetal, @justinh2002 # How is this topic used? This topic will be the place where release information and updates to `ACCESS-ISSM` will be announced, with details of what those updates entail. # What should I do to be notified of any updates? You can [watch this topic](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-issm-release-information/6993), and be notified by email of _every_ update. # Where do I ask questions about releases? Replies to this topic are disabled. If you have specific questions about this release [follow the guidelines for requesting help from ACCESS-NRI](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-help-and-support/908). If you have questions about #access-issm please create a topic in the relevant channel within #Cryosphere > ACCESS-ISSM community space. If you require assistance [follow the guidelines for requesting help from ACCESS-NRI](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-help-and-support/908). ---
**Author:** ![Aidan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/aidan/32/42_2.png) [@Aidan](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/Aidan)\ **Post date:** [16 September 2026 00:51 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-issm-release-information/6993/2 "2026-09-16T00:51:15Z")
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**Author:** ![mtetley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/mtetley/32/495_2.png) [@mtetley](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/mtetley)\ **Post date:** [17 September 2026 02:06 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-issm-release-information/6993/3 "2026-09-17T02:06:43Z")
# ACCESS-ISSM release πŸš€ **Release** : `access-issm_ad` 2026.05.0 **What can you expect to be able to do with this?** A user should be able to - load ACCESS-ISSM as a module on `gadi` and run ISSM simulations of ice sheet, glacier and ice shelf dynamics, using the ISSM executables and Python/C++ wrappers built by the ACCESS-NRI deployment pipeline. - build the model themselves with Spack (on non-NCI systems), using the `main` branch of the [ACCESS-ISSM](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM) deployment repository. ### πŸ“’ **THIS IS A BETA RELEASE** πŸ“’ This is a beta release while rolling out features and getting feedback from the community. More information on release stages are available on the Hive Docs: [Release stages - ACCESS-Hive Docs](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/about/releases/#release-stages-for-model-configurations) ## Feedback We welcome all feedback from all interested users. This provides a chance to work together and improve this release. Please provide feedback through relevant channels within #Cryosphere > ACCESS-ISSM community space on this forum. ACCESS-NRI is interested in all feedback, positive or negative, but in particular we would like to know: - Are the instructions clear and easy to follow? Is there anything unclear, missing or incorrect? ## How to use ACCESS-ISSM is deployed on `gadi` under the [`vk83`](https://my.nci.org.au/mancini/project/vk83) project. You need to be a member of `vk83` to use ACCESS-NRI deployments. ```auto module use /g/data/vk83/modules module load access-issm_ad/2026.05.0 ``` To see all available ACCESS-ISSM versions: ```auto module avail access-issm ``` - [ACCESS-ISSM deployment repository](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM) β€” includes build instructions for compiling the model yourself with Spack - [Release notes and build provenance for 2026.05.0](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM/releases/tag/2026.05.0) β€” including `spack.location` (paths to executables on `gadi`), the `spack.lock` provenance document and the `spack.yaml` used for deployment - [ISSM documentation (NASA JPL)](https://issm.jpl.nasa.gov/documentation/) β€” upstream model documentation and tutorials - [ACCESS-ISSM Hive-Docs - How to run a model](https://docs.access-hive.org.au/models/run_a_model/run_access-issm/) - Walkthrough on how to setup and run an ACCESS-ISSM model using the [pyISSM](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/pyISSM) Python API ## Features βœ… ISSM source at `2026.05.18`, built and deployed using the ACCESS-NRI pipeline. βœ… Pre-compiled executables, no build required for standard use. βœ… Python and C++ wrappers enabled (`+wrappers`, `+py-tools`), for use with the [pyISSM](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/pyISSM) Python API. βœ… Production build (`+production`), with an optimised PETSc configuration for improved solver performance. βœ… Built with Spack 1.1 and [access-spack-packages](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/access-spack-packages) `2026.05.002`, with full build provenance published as a `spack.lock` with each release. βœ… Deployed as an environment module on `gadi` under `vk83`. βœ… An adjoint-capable (`+ad`) build is also available as `access-issm+ad/2026.04.0` for inverse and sensitivity work. ### Key components | Component | Version | | --- | --- | | ISSM | `git.2026.05.18` | | PETSc | 3.21.1 | | MUMPS | 5.8.2 | | METIS / ParMETIS | 5.1.0 / 4.0.3 | | ScaLAPACK | 2.2.0 | | Triangle | 1.6.1 | | OpenMPI | 4.1.5 | | Python / NumPy | 3.11.14 / 1.26.4 | | Compilers | Intel oneAPI 2025.2.0 | ## Limitations πŸ›‘ No ACCESS-NRI released model configuration accompanies this deployment. Users supply their own model setup, meshes and input data. πŸ›‘ This release is the default build; automatic differentiation is not enabled. Use `access-issm+ad` if you need adjoint capability. πŸ›‘ Limited testing undertaken. πŸ›‘ CPU only. GPU-enabled solver work is ongoing and not part of this release. ## Known Issues ⚠ Model output is written to `/scratch`. It is currently a user responsibility to copy output to long term storage if that is a requirement. ⚠ At the time of release [pyISSM](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/pyISSM) is in beta development and its API may change between versions. ## Future developments 🚧 Associated release of an open community whole-Antarctic configuration, [ACCESS-AIS3](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-AIS3). 🚧 Continued development of the associated [pyISSM](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/pyISSM) Python API for model setup, execution, visualisation and analysis. 🚧 Release of GPU-enabled linear solves via a CUDA-enabled PETSc. ## Credits (Latest developments only) ⭐ Optimised PETSc build for the production release (@justinh2002) ⭐ Adjoint (`+ad`) build and Spack recipe (@justinh2002) ⭐ Default ISSM build and deployment (@justinh2002 @lawrenceabird @mtetley) ⭐ Build and deployment infrastructure (@TommyGatti @harshula @Aidan) ⭐ pyISSM development (@lawrenceabird @justinh2002 @mtetley ) ⭐ Documentation (@lawrenceabird @mtetley ) ## Support Replies to this topic are disabled. If you have specific questions about **this release** please add a topic on this forum and tag with #help ([more information about support](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/access-help-and-support/908) for ACCESS-NRI’s released software). ## Resources - [ACCESS-ISSM model deployment repository](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM) - [All ACCESS-ISSM releases](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-ISSM/releases) - [ISSM (NASA JPL)](https://issm.jpl.nasa.gov/) and the [upstream ISSM source](https://github.com/ISSMteam/ISSM) - [pyISSM Python API for ISSM](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/pyISSM) ([PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pyissm/), [conda](https://anaconda.org/channels/accessnri/packages/pyissm/overview)) - [ACCESS-AIS3 whole-Antarctic ISSM configuration](https://github.com/ACCESS-NRI/ACCESS-AIS3) - [Request membership of the `vk83` project at NCI](https://my.nci.org.au/mancini/project/vk83)