How is the Common Community Physics Package Governed?

The Common Community Physics Package (CCPP) is an infrastructure that supports the community in the development and use of physical parameterizations. It consists of a library of parameterizations (CCPP Physics) and a software framework (CCPP Framework) that couples the physics for use in Earth system models . Following the premise that scientific and technical challenges can be met more efficiently through collaborative development, the CCPP was designed to enable interoperability of physical parameterizations among various host models at a number of modeling centers. Another key aspect of the CCPP is its focus on supporting parameterization research, transition of research to operations, and operational implementation. To facilitate research and development in a controlled, simplified, and computationally inexpensive setting, the CCPP is distributed with a Single Column Model (CCPP SCM), which lowers the bar for using and contributing to the package.

The CCPP was conceived by the Developmental Testbed Center (DTC), which implemented the foundational software infrastructure. While the DTC was the developer of the first-generation CCPP Framework, NSF NCAR and the US Navy Research Laboratory are now important partners in the creation of the yet-to-be-released second-generation CCPP Framework. In contrast to the CCPP Framework, which is developed by a small group, the CCPP Physics relies completely on contributions from the broader community, which regularly innovates existing parameterizations and occasionally adds new ones.

Given the distributed development of the CCPP Physics and Framework, along with the need to involve developers, stakeholders, and sponsors in the technical and programmatic directions of the package, two governance bodies have been stood up: the CCPP Physics Code Management Group and the CCPP Framework Developers committee. These groups provide input and direction to the CCPP, and work alongside with methods to collect input from the broader community (via GitHub discussions and a 2023 visioning workshop). Additionally, the DTC collects input from stakeholders and sponsors via the DTC governance bodies, and uses this input to prioritize the work of its CCPP team.

In this presentation, we will explain the roles of the various groups that provide input on the CCPP Governance and how they work synergistically to advance the CCPP project to best meet the needs of the community and stakeholders. We will discuss the successes and challenges of the governance, along with the next steps planned.