diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun.yml b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun.yml
index 8494e76da7..37b418200d 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "amip_n1_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun_nocouple.yml b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun_nocouple.yml
index d7293df268..f4a9597eeb 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun_nocouple.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n1_shortrun_nocouple.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "amip_n1_shortrun_nocouple"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n2_shortrun.yml b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n2_shortrun.yml
index 4338bd5dd8..a160fd5a1d 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n2_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n2_shortrun.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "amip_n2_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n32_shortrun.yml b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n32_shortrun.yml
index 79bcc81dfd..b4b78144ce 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n32_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n32_shortrun.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "amip_n32_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n64_shortrun.yml b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n64_shortrun.yml
index 130e4699f5..c184acebaa 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n64_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n64_shortrun.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "amip_n64_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n8_shortrun.yml b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n8_shortrun.yml
index 7e54162ade..12a93f6afb 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/amip_n8_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/amip_n8_shortrun.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "amip_n8_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/model_configs/gpu_target_amip_albedo_function.yml b/config/model_configs/gpu_target_amip_albedo_function.yml
index 55c8e23dd2..04cc3d34d1 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/gpu_target_amip_albedo_function.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/gpu_target_amip_albedo_function.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ dz_bottom: 30
 dz_top: 3000
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "gpu_target_amip_albedo_function"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 land_albedo_type: "function"
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/target_amip_albedo_function.yml b/config/model_configs/target_amip_albedo_function.yml
index 5fc762e397..68c347ddd4 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/target_amip_albedo_function.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/target_amip_albedo_function.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ dz_bottom: 30
 dz_top: 3000
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "target_amip_albedo_function"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 land_albedo_type: "function"
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml b/config/model_configs/target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml
index ef1ce0b82a..3aeb4a20d3 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "target_amip_n1_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/config/perf_configs/perf_diff_target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml b/config/perf_configs/perf_diff_target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml
index 5633b0c2f7..6db18cfc0a 100644
--- a/config/perf_configs/perf_diff_target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml
+++ b/config/perf_configs/perf_diff_target_amip_n1_shortrun.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ dz_top: 3000
 energy_check: false
 h_elem: 16
 job_id: "perf_target_amip_n1_shortrun"
-kappa_4: 1e16
 mode_name: "amip"
 moist: "equil"
 mono_surface: false
diff --git a/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh b/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh
index 69fa48d5cf..677ff83e84 100644
--- a/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh
+++ b/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ julia --project=artifacts artifacts/download_artifacts.jl
 
 # run spin up
 # - specify `--hourly_checkpoint true` to save monthly checkpoints of all model prognostic states
-mpiexec julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/ experiments/AMIP/coupler_driver.jl --run_name $RUN_NAME --coupled true   --start_date 19790101 --hourly_checkpoint true  --anim true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --dt_cpl 200 --energy_check false --mode_name amip --mono_surface false --vert_diff true --moist equil --rad clearsky --precip_model 0M --z_elem 35 --dz_bottom 50 --h_elem 12 --kappa_4 3e16 --rayleigh_sponge true --alpha_rayleigh_uh 0 --dt 200secs --t_end 0.1days --job_id $RUN_NAME --dt_save_to_sol 1000days --dt_save_state_to_disk 10days --apply_limiter false --FLOAT_TYPE Float64
+mpiexec julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/ experiments/AMIP/coupler_driver.jl --run_name $RUN_NAME --coupled true   --start_date 19790101 --hourly_checkpoint true  --anim true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --dt_cpl 200 --energy_check false --mode_name amip --mono_surface false --vert_diff true --moist equil --rad clearsky --precip_model 0M --z_elem 35 --dz_bottom 50 --h_elem 12 --rayleigh_sponge true --alpha_rayleigh_uh 0 --dt 200secs --t_end 0.1days --job_id $RUN_NAME --dt_save_to_sol 1000days --dt_save_state_to_disk 10days --apply_limiter false --FLOAT_TYPE Float64
 
 # init using a restart
 # - specify the directory of the `checkpoint/` folder (i.e.,  `--restart_dir`) and time (in secs; `--restart_t`) of the restart file
-mpiexec julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/ experiments/AMIP/coupler_driver.jl --run_name $RUN_NAME --coupled true --restart_dir $RESTART_DIR --restart_t $RESTART_T --start_date 19790102 --anim true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --dt_cpl 200 --energy_check false --mode_name amip --mono_surface false --vert_diff true --moist equil --rad clearsky --precip_model 0M --z_elem 35 --dz_bottom 50 --h_elem 12 --kappa_4 3e16 --rayleigh_sponge true --alpha_rayleigh_uh 0 --dt 200secs --t_end 0.1days --job_id $RUN_NAME --dt_save_to_sol 1000days --dt_save_state_to_disk 10days --apply_limiter false --FLOAT_TYPE Float64
+mpiexec julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/ experiments/AMIP/coupler_driver.jl --run_name $RUN_NAME --coupled true --restart_dir $RESTART_DIR --restart_t $RESTART_T --start_date 19790102 --anim true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --dt_cpl 200 --energy_check false --mode_name amip --mono_surface false --vert_diff true --moist equil --rad clearsky --precip_model 0M --z_elem 35 --dz_bottom 50 --h_elem 12 --rayleigh_sponge true --alpha_rayleigh_uh 0 --dt 200secs --t_end 0.1days --job_id $RUN_NAME --dt_save_to_sol 1000days --dt_save_state_to_disk 10days --apply_limiter false --FLOAT_TYPE Float64