MAPL3: A Hierarchical Framework Based on ESMF

MAPL is a hierarchical, ESMF-based, coupling framework developed to support NASA's GEOS data assimilation system, but also now supports some external applications from partner institutions. The framework continues to evolve in response novel coupling requirements and is currently undergoing a substantial re-engineering effort to improve extensibility and maintainability. Some of the major new features that will be provided in the upcoming release of MAPL3 include the following: (1) "weak" NUOPC compliance that expresses a MAPL hierarchy as single NUOPC model, (2) component extensions that represent an improvement over conventional component couplers in many contexts, (3) an expansion of the concept of import and export to include component "services" such as advection, turbulence, etc., (4) automated OpenMP threading of column-based component subtrees, (5) and (5) improved I/O scalability.