diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 3927be635..22c723ac1 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 [submodule "ccpp/physics"]
   path = ccpp/physics
   url = https://github.com/ufs-community/ccpp-physics
-  branch = ufs/dev 
+  branch = ufs/dev
 [submodule "upp"]
   path = upp
   url = https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/UPP