diff --git a/param_templates/MOM_input.yaml b/param_templates/MOM_input.yaml
index 509ee036..dd318d8f 100644
--- a/param_templates/MOM_input.yaml
+++ b/param_templates/MOM_input.yaml
@@ -1598,15 +1598,16 @@ Global:
         value:
             $OCN_GRID == "gx1v6": True
             $OCN_GRID == "tx0.66v1": True
-    SMOOTH_RI:
+    N_SMOOTH_RI:
         description: |
-            "[Boolean] default = False
-            If true, vertically smooth the Richardsonnumber by applying a 1-2-1 filter once."
-        datatype: logical
-        units: Boolean
+            "default = 0
+            If > 0, vertically smooth the Richardson number by applying a 1-2-1 filter
+            N_SMOOTH_RI times."
+        datatype: integer
+        units: nondim
         value:
-            $OCN_GRID == "gx1v6": True
-            $OCN_GRID == "tx0.66v1": True
+            $OCN_GRID == "gx1v6": 1
+            $OCN_GRID == "tx0.66v1": 1
     USE_CVMIX_DDIFF:
         description: |
             "[Boolean] default = False
diff --git a/param_templates/json/MOM_input.json b/param_templates/json/MOM_input.json
index 5739199b..c9c0f873 100644
--- a/param_templates/json/MOM_input.json
+++ b/param_templates/json/MOM_input.json
@@ -1192,13 +1192,13 @@
             "$OCN_GRID == \"tx0.66v1\"": true
          }
       },
-      "SMOOTH_RI": {
-         "description": "\"[Boolean] default = False\nIf true, vertically smooth the Richardsonnumber by applying a 1-2-1 filter once.\"\n",
-         "datatype": "logical",
-         "units": "Boolean",
+      "N_SMOOTH_RI": {
+         "description": "\"default = 0\nIf > 0, vertically smooth the Richardson number by applying a 1-2-1 filter\nN_SMOOTH_RI times.\"\n",
+         "datatype": "integer",
+         "units": "nondim",
          "value": {
-            "$OCN_GRID == \"gx1v6\"": true,
-            "$OCN_GRID == \"tx0.66v1\"": true
+            "$OCN_GRID == \"gx1v6\"": 1,
+            "$OCN_GRID == \"tx0.66v1\"": 1
          }
       },
       "USE_CVMIX_DDIFF": {