diff --git a/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFA.py b/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFA.py
index 1d01e5406..9285a99b7 100644
--- a/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFA.py
+++ b/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFA.py
@@ -1681,6 +1681,7 @@ def initializeFields(cfg, dem, particles, releaseLine):
     fields["sfcChange"] = np.zeros((nrows, ncols))  # depth that changes the surface [m]
     fields["sfcChangeTotal"] = np.zeros((nrows, ncols))  # total depth that changed the surface [m]
     fields["demAdapted"] = np.zeros((nrows, ncols))  # adapted topography [m]
+    fields["timeInfo"] = np.zeros((nrows, ncols))  # first time
     # for optional fields, initialize with dummys (minimum size array). The cython functions then need something
     # even if it is empty to run properly
     if ("TA" in resTypesLast) or ("pta" in resTypesLast):
@@ -2674,6 +2675,9 @@ def computeEulerTimeStep(
         particles = DFAfunC.computeTrajectoryAngleC(particles, zPartArray0)
     particles, fields = DFAfunC.updateFieldsC(cfg, particles, dem, fields)
 
+    # update field that indicates when cell was first affected by mass
+    fields = com1DFATools.updateTimeField(fields, particles["t"])
+
     # adapt DEM considering erosion and deposition
     # only adapt DEM when in one grid cell the changing height > threshold
     thresholdAdaptSfc = cfg.getfloat("thresholdAdaptSfc")
diff --git a/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFACfg.ini b/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFACfg.ini
index e2b3cd77d..c9e9cd5e9 100644
--- a/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFACfg.ini
+++ b/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFACfg.ini
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ simTypeList = available
 modelType = dfa
 
 #+++++++++++++ Output++++++++++++
-# desired result Parameters (ppr, pft, pfv, pta, FT, FV, P, FM, Vx, Vy, Vz, TA, dmDet, sfcChange, demAdapted, particles) - separated by |
-resType = ppr|pft|pfv
+# desired result Parameters (ppr, pft, pfv, pta, FT, FV, P, FM, Vx, Vy, Vz, TA, dmDet, sfcChange, demAdapted, timeInfo, particles) - separated by |
+resType = ppr|pft|pfv|timeInfo
 # saving time step, i.e.  time in seconds (first and last time step are always saved)
 # option 1: give an interval with start:interval in seconds (tStep = 0:5 - this will save desired results every 5 seconds for the full simulation)
 # option 2: explicitly list all desired time steps (closest to actual computational time step) separated by | (example tSteps = 1|50.2|100)
diff --git a/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFATools.py b/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFATools.py
index 5fde3a4a7..a1b52b2b5 100644
--- a/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFATools.py
+++ b/avaframe/com1DFA/com1DFATools.py
@@ -481,3 +481,27 @@ def chooseDemPlot(dem, adaptedDemBackground=False):
         demPlot["rasterData"] = dem["originalRasterData"]
         log.info("The original DEM is used in the plots.")
     return demPlot
+
+
+def updateTimeField(fields, timeStep):
+    """update filed indicating first time step mass entered a cell
+
+    Parameters
+    -----------
+    fields: dict
+        dictionary with fields
+    timeStep: float
+        actual time step
+
+    Returns
+    ---------
+    fields: dict
+        updated timeInfo field
+    """
+
+    FT = fields["FT"]
+
+    # set time step to previously not affected cells
+    fields["timeInfo"] = np.where(((fields["timeInfo"] == 0) & (FT != 0)), timeStep, fields["timeInfo"])
+
+    return fields
diff --git a/avaframe/com1DFA/deriveParameterSet.py b/avaframe/com1DFA/deriveParameterSet.py
index c463fa5f3..c6848a722 100644
--- a/avaframe/com1DFA/deriveParameterSet.py
+++ b/avaframe/com1DFA/deriveParameterSet.py
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ def checkResType(fullCfg, section, key, value):
             "FTDet",
             "sfcChange",
             "demAdapted",
+            "timeInfo",
         ]
         message = "The parameter % s is not a valid resType. It will not be saved"
         newResType = []
@@ -411,6 +412,18 @@ def checkThicknessSettings(cfg, thName, inputSimFiles):
             )
             log.error(message)
             raise AssertionError(message)
+        # Check: If raster input file but thFromFile = False, error
+        elif (
+            not cfg["GENERAL"].getboolean(thFlag)
+            and inputSimFiles["entResInfo"][thName + "FileType"] in [".asc", ".tif"]
+            and inputSimFiles["entResInfo"]["flag" + nameTypes[thName]] == "Yes"
+        ):
+            message = "If %s input file is of type .asc or .tif - %s needs to be set to True" % (
+                nameStrings[thName],
+                thFlag,
+            )
+            log.error(message)
+            raise AssertionError(message)
     else:
         message = "Check %s - needs to be True or False" % thFlag
         log.error(message)
diff --git a/avaframe/data/avaSimilaritySol/Inputs/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini b/avaframe/data/avaSimilaritySol/Inputs/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini
index e3e16cea2..9075d8989 100644
--- a/avaframe/data/avaSimilaritySol/Inputs/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini
+++ b/avaframe/data/avaSimilaritySol/Inputs/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ initPartDistType = random
 
 #+++++++++SNOW properties
 # True if release thickness should be read from shapefile file; if False - relTh read from ini file
-relThFromFile = False
+relThFromFile = True
 
 #++++++++++++Time stepping parameters
 # End time [s]
diff --git a/avaframe/out1Peak/outPlotAllPeak.py b/avaframe/out1Peak/outPlotAllPeak.py
index a54151eb8..f3e392726 100644
--- a/avaframe/out1Peak/outPlotAllPeak.py
+++ b/avaframe/out1Peak/outPlotAllPeak.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 matplotlib.use("agg")
 from matplotlib import pyplot as plt
 import pathlib
-from mpl_toolkits.axes_grid1 import make_axes_locatable
 
 import avaframe.out3Plot.plotUtils as pU
 import avaframe.in1Data.getInput as gI
@@ -306,9 +305,18 @@ def addConstrainedDataField(fileName, resType, demField, ax, cellSize, alpha=1.0
         if len(np.nonzero(data)[0]) > 0.0:
             # add Colorbar
             fig = ax.get_figure()
-            divider = make_axes_locatable(ax)
-            cax = divider.append_axes("right", size="5%", pad=0.05)
-            fig.colorbar(im1, cax=cax)
+            cax = ax.inset_axes([1.05, 0.075, 0.05, 0.925], transform=ax.transAxes)
+            fig.colorbar(im1, ax=ax, cax=cax)
+            cax2 = ax.inset_axes([1.0, 0.0, 0.05, 0.075], transform=ax.transAxes)
+            plt.text(
+                0.5,
+                0.5,
+                ("[%s]" % unit),
+                horizontalalignment="left",
+                verticalalignment="center",
+                transform=cax2.transAxes,
+            )
+            cax2.set_visible(False)
 
     return ax, rowsMinPlot, colsMinPlot, extentCellCorners
 
diff --git a/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtils.py b/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtils.py
index d0987c692..5396d361a 100644
--- a/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtils.py
+++ b/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtils.py
@@ -214,6 +214,31 @@
 ]
 cmapSfcChange = copy.copy(cmapCrameri.nuuk.reversed())
 
+# colormap for timeInfo
+levtimeInfo = list(fU.splitIniValueToArraySteps(cfgPlotUtils["timeInfoColorLevels"]))
+# lipari reversed color map
+colorstimInfo = [
+    "#fdf5da",
+    "#f2debb",
+    "#e9c99f",
+    "#e5b58a",
+    "#e7a37a",
+    "#ea906d",
+    "#e57b62",
+    "#d46b5e",
+    "#bc6461",
+    "#a36267",
+    "#8e616c",
+    "#7c6071",
+    "#6b5f76",
+    "#5b5d79",
+    "#45587a",
+    "#294b70",
+    "#13385a",
+    "#082540",
+    "#031326",
+]
+cmaptimeInfo = copy.copy(cmapCrameri.lipari.reversed())
 
 ###############################################
 # Set colormaps to use
@@ -237,6 +262,8 @@
 
 cmapSfcChange = {"cmap": cmapSfcChange, "colors": colorsSfcC, "levels": levSfcC}
 
+cmapTime = {"cmap": cmaptimeInfo, "colors": colorstimInfo, "levels": levtimeInfo}
+
 # for zdelta
 # Remark FSO: the try except comes from cmcrameri v1.5 not having lipari, but it is still
 # widely used (Okt 2024). TODO: remove in future versions
@@ -269,6 +296,7 @@
     "dmDet": cmapDmDet,
     "demAdapted": cmapGreys,
     "sfcChange": cmapSfcChange,
+    "timeInfo": cmapTime,
 }
 
 cmapDEM = cmapGreys
diff --git a/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtilsCfg.ini b/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtilsCfg.ini
index 8371e55a0..5d085f30d 100644
--- a/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtilsCfg.ini
+++ b/avaframe/out3Plot/plotUtilsCfg.ini
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ unitzdelta = m
 unitdmDet = kg
 unitsfcChange = m
 unitdemAdapted = m
+unittimeInfo = s
 # threshold levels
 elevMaxppr = 100
 elevMaxpft = 1
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ travelAngleColorLevels = 28|29|30|31|32|33|34
 probaColorLevels = 0|0.25|0.50|0.75|1.
 # for thicknessChange
 surfaceChangeLevels = -1|-0.3|-0.1|0|0.1|0.3|1
+# for time Info
+timeInfoColorLevels = 10|20|30|40|50|60|70|80|90|100|110|120|130|140|150|160|170|180|200
 # contour levels (when adding contour lines on a plot)
 contourLevelsppr = 1|3|5|10|25|50|100|250
 contourLevelspft = 0.1|0.25|0.5|0.75|1
@@ -144,4 +147,5 @@ nameVy = y velocity
 nameVz = z velocity
 nameTA = travel angle
 namezdelta = energy line height
-namedmDet = detrained mass
\ No newline at end of file
+namedmDet = detrained mass
+nametimeInfo = firstTime
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/avaframe/tests/data/testSimiSol/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini b/avaframe/tests/data/testSimiSol/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini
deleted file mode 100644
index d83c27c21..000000000
--- a/avaframe/tests/data/testSimiSol/simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,108 +0,0 @@
-### Config File - This file contains the main settings for the similarity
-### solution run with com1DFAPy
-
-
-[GENERAL]
-#+++++++++++++ Output++++++++++++
-# desired result Parameters (ppr, pft, pfv, FT, FV, P, particles) - separated by |
-resType = FT|FV|Vx|Vy|Vz
-tSteps = 0:1
-
-#+++++++++SNOW properties
-# True if release thickness should be read from shapefile file; if False - relTh read from ini file
-relThFromFile = False
-
-#++++++++++++Time stepping parameters
-tEnd = 5
-# to use a variable time step (time step depends on kernel radius)
-sphKernelRadiusTimeStepping = True
-# courant number
-cMax = 0.04
-
-#+++++++++++++SPH parameters
-# SPH gradient option
-# 0) No pressure gradients computed
-# 1) SamosAT style (no reprojecion on the surface, dz = 0 and gz is used)
-# 2) SamostAt but done in the cartesian coord system (will hopefully allow us to add the earth pressure coef)
-# 3) SamostAt but done in the local coord system (will hopefully allow us to add the earth pressure coef)
-# and this time reprojecion on the surface, dz not 0 and g3 is used
-sphOption = 2
-# sph kernel smoothing length [m]
-sphKernelRadius = 8
-# Choice of artificial viscosity
-# 0) No artificial viscosity
-# 1) SAMOS artificial viscosity
-# 2) Ata artificial viscosity
-viscOption = 1
-
-#++++++++++++++++ Particles
-# number of particles defined by: MPPDIR= mass per particle direct, MPPDH= mass per particles through release thickness,
-# MPPKR= mass per particles through number of particles per kernel radius
-massPerParticleDeterminationMethod = MPPKR
-# reference kernel radius
-sphKR0 = 5
-# reference number of particles per kernel radius
-nPPK0 = 15|20
-# variation of appK exponent
-aPPK = -0.5|-1
-
-# threshold for splitting particles, split if: mPart > massPerPart x thresholdMassSplit
-thresholdMassSplit = 5
-
-
-#+++++++++++++Mesh and interpolation
-# remesh the input DEM
-# expected mesh size [m]
-meshCellSize = 8
-
-#+++++++++++++Flow model parameters+++++++++
-# subgridMixingFactor
-subgridMixingFactor = 10
-
-#++++++++++++Friction model
-# friction type (samosAT, Coulomb)
-frictModel = Coulomb
-# add the friction using an explicit formulation (1)
-# 0 use an implicit method
-explicitFriction = 1
-#+++++++++++++SamosAt friction model
-mu = 0.466307658
-
-[SIMISOL]
-# which time step should be saved
-tSave = 5
-# dimensioning parameters
-L_x = 80.
-L_y = 80.
-
-# release thickness
-relTh = 4.
-
-# bed friction angle
-bedFrictionAngle = 25.
-# internal friction angle
-internalFrictionAngle = 25.
-# plane inclination angle
-planeinclinationAngle = 35.
-
-# Flag earthpressure coefficients
-# if false takes 1
-flagEarth = False
-
-# save analysis plots at time step dtSol
-dtSol = 50.
-
-#++++Plotting parameters++++++
-# list of parameters to display in the summary plot (list of parameters separated by |)
-paramInfo = sphKernelRadius|aPPK|nPPK0|nPart
-# plotting flags
-# only analyze and plot the tSave time step
-onlyLast = True
-# plot error function of time for each simulation
-plotErrorTime = False
-# plot individual figure for the h, hu and u error for each saved time step
-plotSequence = False
-# use relative difference
-relativError = True
-# when plotting, the domain extent is scaleCoef times bigger than the data extent
-scaleCoef = 1.02
diff --git a/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFA.py b/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFA.py
index feec8bffd..ee2fa9713 100644
--- a/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFA.py
+++ b/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFA.py
@@ -1915,13 +1915,14 @@ def test_initializeFields():
     #    print("compute TA", fields["computeTA"])
     #    print("compute P", fields["computeP"])
 
-    assert len(fields) == 23
+    assert len(fields) == 24
     assert fields["computeTA"] is False
     assert fields["computeKE"] is False
     assert fields["computeP"]
     assert np.sum(fields["pfv"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["pta"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["ppr"]) == 0.0
+    assert np.sum(fields["pke"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["FV"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["P"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["TA"]) == 0.0
@@ -1937,6 +1938,8 @@ def test_initializeFields():
     assert np.sum(fields["FTDet"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["FTStop"]) == 0.0
     assert np.sum(fields["FTEnt"]) == 0.0
+    assert np.sum(fields["timeInfo"]) == 0.0
+    assert np.sum(fields["sfcChangeTotal"]) == 0.0
 
     cfg["REPORT"] = {"plotFields": "pft|pfv"}
     cfg["GENERAL"] = {
@@ -1947,7 +1950,7 @@ def test_initializeFields():
     }
     # call function to be tested
     particles, fields = com1DFA.initializeFields(cfg, dem, particles, "")
-    assert len(fields) == 23
+    assert len(fields) == 24
     assert fields["computeTA"]
     assert fields["computeKE"]
     assert fields["computeP"] is False
diff --git a/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFATools.py b/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFATools.py
index d34df7867..98cc5074e 100644
--- a/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFATools.py
+++ b/avaframe/tests/test_com1DFATools.py
@@ -150,3 +150,27 @@ def test_updateResCoeffFields(tmp_path):
     assert fields["detRaster"][0, 0] == 3
     assert fields["cResRaster"][2, 3] == 0
     assert fields["detRaster"][2, 3] == 3
+
+
+def test_updateTimeField():
+    """test updating the field of timeInfo"""
+
+    nrows = 5
+    ncols = 6
+
+    timeInfo = np.zeros((nrows, ncols))
+    timeInfo[0, 1:3] = 1.0
+
+    FT = np.zeros((nrows, ncols))
+    FT[0, 1:3] = 0.5
+    FT[1, 2:4] = 2.5
+    timeStep = 5.0
+    fields = {"timeInfo": timeInfo, "FT": FT}
+
+    fields = com1DFATools.updateTimeField(fields, timeStep)
+
+    assert fields["timeInfo"][0, 1] == 1.0
+    assert fields["timeInfo"][0, 2] == 1.0
+    assert fields["timeInfo"][1, 2] == 5.0
+    assert fields["timeInfo"][1, 3] == 5.0
+    assert not fields["timeInfo"][2:6, :].any()
diff --git a/avaframe/tests/test_deriveParameterSet.py b/avaframe/tests/test_deriveParameterSet.py
index 289819d38..a6d6ab749 100644
--- a/avaframe/tests/test_deriveParameterSet.py
+++ b/avaframe/tests/test_deriveParameterSet.py
@@ -391,11 +391,14 @@ def test_checkThicknessSettings():
 
     thName = "relTh"
 
-    thicknessSettingsCorrect = dP.checkThicknessSettings(cfg, thName, inputSimFiles)
-
-    assert thicknessSettingsCorrect
+    with pytest.raises(AssertionError) as e:
+        assert dP.checkThicknessSettings(cfg, "relTh", inputSimFiles)
+    assert str(e.value) == (
+        "If Release area input file is of type .asc or .tif - relThFromFile needs to be set to True"
+    )
 
     cfg["GENERAL"]["relThRangeVariation"] = "50$4"
+    cfg["GENERAL"]["relThFromFile"] = "True"
 
     with pytest.raises(AssertionError) as e:
         assert dP.checkThicknessSettings(cfg, "relTh", inputSimFiles)
diff --git a/avaframe/tests/test_simiSol.py b/avaframe/tests/test_simiSol.py
index 0daa4cc5c..aeed221ec 100644
--- a/avaframe/tests/test_simiSol.py
+++ b/avaframe/tests/test_simiSol.py
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@
 
 def test_mainCompareSimSolCom1DFA(tmp_path):
     dirname = pathlib.Path(__file__).parents[0]
-    simiSolCfg = (
-        dirname / ".." / "tests" / "data" / "testSimiSol" / "simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini"
-    )
+    simiSolCfg = dirname / ".." / "data" / "avaSimilaritySol" / "Inputs" / "simiSol_com1DFACfg.ini"
     sourceDir = dirname / ".." / "data" / "avaSimilaritySol" / "Inputs"
     destDir = tmp_path / "avaSimilaritySol" / "Inputs"
     avalancheDir = tmp_path / "avaSimilaritySol"
@@ -33,15 +31,27 @@ def test_mainCompareSimSolCom1DFA(tmp_path):
     cfgMain = cfgUtils.getGeneralConfig()
     cfgMain['MAIN']['avalancheDir'] = str(avalancheDir)
     cfg = cfgUtils.getModuleConfig(com1DFA, simiSolCfg)
+    # adjust settings for faster computation times
+    cfg["GENERAL"]["cMax"] = "0.04"
+    cfg["GENERAL"]["sphKernelRadius"] = "8"
+    cfg["GENERAL"]["nPPK0"] = "15|20"
+    cfg["GENERAL"]["aPPK"] = "-0.5|-1"
+    cfg["GENERAL"]["meshCellSize"] = "8"
+
+    # write updated cfg to file
+    cfgFile = pathlib.Path(destDir, "%s.ini" % ("simiSolUpdated_com1DFACfg"))
+    with open(cfgFile, "w") as conf:
+        cfg.write(conf)
+
     # Define release thickness distribution
     demFile = gI.getDEMPath(avalancheDir)
     relDict = simiSolTest.getReleaseThickness(avalancheDir, cfg, demFile)
     # call com1DFA to perform simulations - provide configuration file and release thickness function
     # (may be multiple sims)
-    _, _, _, simDF = com1DFA.com1DFAMain(cfgMain, cfgInfo=simiSolCfg)
+    _, _, _, simDF = com1DFA.com1DFAMain(cfgMain, cfgInfo=cfgFile)
 
     simDF, _ = cfgUtils.readAllConfigurationInfo(avalancheDir)
-    solSimi = simiSolTest.mainSimilaritySol(simiSolCfg)
+    solSimi = simiSolTest.mainSimilaritySol(cfgFile)
 
     simDF = simiSolTest.postProcessSimiSol(
         avalancheDir, cfgMain, cfg, simDF, solSimi, outDirTest
diff --git a/docs/moduleCom1DFA.rst b/docs/moduleCom1DFA.rst
index c5f0222e6..77cb853c8 100644
--- a/docs/moduleCom1DFA.rst
+++ b/docs/moduleCom1DFA.rst
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ Release-, entrainment thickness settings
     Thickness is unambiguous: it is measured normal to the slope.
 
 Release, entrainment and secondary release thickness can be specified in two different ways, 1) directly from the provided
-input file (shape file or raster file) or 2) through the :py:mod:`com1DFA` configuration file:
+input file (shape file or raster file) or 2) through the :py:mod:`com1DFA` configuration file
+(only available if input file is of type shape file):
 
 1. **Read from input file**:
 
@@ -306,6 +307,7 @@ The result types that can be chosen to be exported are (all correspond to fields
 * FTDet - thickness of detrained mass computed based on dmDet / (rho * area of cell)
 * sfcChange - flow depth that changed the surface topography due to detrainment, stopping and entrainment
 * demAdapted - adapted DEM considering stopping/ detrainment/ entrainment
+* timeInfo - time step at which a cell was first affected by flow
 * particles (:ref:`com1DFAAlgorithm:Particle properties`)
 
 Have a look at the designated subsection Output in ``com1DFA/com1DFACfg.ini``.