diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-from-conda.yml b/.github/workflows/install-from-conda.yml
index 3696d34e86..55897e7fe4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-from-conda.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-from-conda.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 4 * * *'
 
+# Required shell entrypoint to have properly configured bash shell
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -l {0}
+
 jobs:
   linux:
     runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
@@ -24,20 +29,16 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-version: "latest"
           miniforge-variant: Mambaforge
           use-mamba: true
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           which conda 2>&1 | tee conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_path.txt
           which mamba 2>&1 | tee -a conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_path.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
       - name: Install ESMValTool
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: mamba install esmvaltool 2>&1 | tee conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Verify installation
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           esmvaltool --help
           esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee conda_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
@@ -65,31 +66,20 @@ jobs:
 #          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 #          miniconda-version: "latest"
 #          channels: conda-forge
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: mkdir -p conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: which conda 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_path.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: python -V 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
+#      - run: mkdir -p conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+#      - run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
+#      - run: which conda 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_path.txt
+#      - run: python -V 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
 #      # ncurses needs to be from conda-forge and not main channel
 #      # for now it's turned off since we're not testing R/Julia installs
-#      # - shell: bash -l {0}
-#      #   run: conda uninstall -y ncurses
-#      # - shell: bash -l {0}
-#      #   run: conda list ncurses
-#      # - shell: bash -l {0}
-#      #   run: conda install -y conda-forge::ncurses
-#      # - shell: bash -l {0}
-#      #   run: conda list ncurses
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        #run: conda install esmvaltool --no-update-deps 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
-#        run: conda install esmvaltool-python esmvaltool-ncl 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: esmvaltool --help
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
+#      # - run: conda uninstall -y ncurses
+#      # - run: conda list ncurses
+#      # - run: conda install -y conda-forge::ncurses
+#      # - run: conda list ncurses
+#      - run: conda install esmvaltool --no-update-deps 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
+#      - run: conda install esmvaltool-python esmvaltool-ncl 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
+#      - run: esmvaltool --help
+#      - run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee conda_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
 #      - name: Upload artifacts
 #        if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
 #        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-from-condalock-file.yml b/.github/workflows/install-from-condalock-file.yml
index 99092069d8..a209c06f32 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-from-condalock-file.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-from-condalock-file.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 0 * * *'
 
+# Required shell entrypoint to have properly configured bash shell
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -l {0}
+
 jobs:
   linux:
     runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
@@ -38,68 +43,21 @@ jobs:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
           miniconda-version: "latest"
           channels: conda-forge
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: which python
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: python -V 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: conda create --name esmvaltool-fromlock --file conda-linux-64.lock
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: which python
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: pip --version
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: pip install -e .[develop]
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: esmvaltool --help
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: flake8
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: pytest -n 2 -m "not installation"
+      - run: mkdir -p source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
+      - run: which python
+      - run: python -V 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
+      - run: conda create --name esmvaltool-fromlock --file conda-linux-64.lock
+      - run: which python
+      - run: pip --version
+      - run: pip install -e .[develop]
+      - run: esmvaltool --help
+      - run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
+      - run: flake8
+      - run: pytest -n 2 -m "not installation"
       - name: Upload artifacts
         if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
         with:
           name: Source_Install_Linux_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
           path: source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
-
-#  osx:
-#    runs-on: "macos-latest"
-#    strategy:
-#      matrix:
-#        python-version: ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11"]
-#      fail-fast: false
-#    name: OSX Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-#    steps:
-#      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
-#      - uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v2
-#        with:
-#          activate-environment: esmvaltool
-#          environment-file: environment.yml
-#          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-#          miniconda-version: "latest"
-#          channels: conda-forge
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: mkdir -p source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: python -V 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: esmvaltool --help
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
-#      - name: Upload artifacts
-#        if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
-#        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
-#        with:
-#          name: Source_Install_OSX_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
-#          path: source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-from-source.yml b/.github/workflows/install-from-source.yml
index 8c86e273ac..2e24b8f049 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-from-source.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-from-source.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 0 * * *'
 
+# Required shell entrypoint to have properly configured bash shell
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -l {0}
+
 jobs:
   linux:
     runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
@@ -29,18 +34,14 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-version: "latest"
           miniforge-variant: Mambaforge
           use-mamba: true
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
       - name: Install
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Verify installation
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           esmvaltool --help
           esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee source_install_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
@@ -70,18 +71,12 @@ jobs:
 #          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 #          miniconda-version: "latest"
 #          channels: conda-forge
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: mkdir -p source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: python -V 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: esmvaltool --help
-#      - shell: bash -l {0}
-#        run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
+#      - run: mkdir -p source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+#      - run: conda --version 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
+#      - run: python -V 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
+#      - run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
+#      - run: esmvaltool --help
+#      - run: esmvaltool version 2>&1 | tee source_install_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/version.txt
 #      - name: Upload artifacts
 #        if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
 #        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-tests-monitor.yml b/.github/workflows/run-tests-monitor.yml
index e23c7c0daf..1efe54a66a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-tests-monitor.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-tests-monitor.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 0 * * *'  # nightly
 
+# Required shell entrypoint to have properly configured bash shell
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -l {0}
+
 jobs:
   linux:
     runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
@@ -32,29 +37,22 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-version: "latest"
           miniforge-variant: Mambaforge
           use-mamba: true
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
       - name: Install pytest-monitor
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install pytest-monitor
       - name: Install ESMValTool
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Install Julia dependencies
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: esmvaltool install Julia
       - name: Run tests
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: >
           pytest -n 2 -m "not installation" --db ../.pymon 2>&1
           | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/test_report.txt
       - name: Parse monitor information
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: python tests/parse_pymon.py
       - name: Upload artifacts
         if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
@@ -84,28 +82,22 @@ jobs:
           use-mamba: true
       # - name: Install libomp with homebrew
       #   run: brew install libomp
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
       - name: Install pytest-monitor
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install pytest-monitor
       - name: Install ESMValTool
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: >
           pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1
           | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Run tests
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: >
           pytest -n 2 -m "not installation" --db ../.pymon 2>&1
           | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/test_report.txt
       - name: Parse monitor information
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: python tests/parse_pymon.py
       - name: Upload artifacts
         if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-development.yml b/.github/workflows/test-development.yml
index 2f115ed46e..dfede54280 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-development.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-development.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 0 * * *'
 
+# Required shell entrypoint to have properly configured bash shell
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -l {0}
+
 jobs:
   linux:
     runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
@@ -35,31 +40,24 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-version: "latest"
           miniforge-variant: Mambaforge
           use-mamba: true
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p develop_test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p develop_test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee develop_test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee develop_test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
       - name: Install ESMValTool
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee develop_test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Install Julia dependencies
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: esmvaltool install Julia
       - name: Install development version of ESMValCore
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           cd ..
           git clone https://github.com/ESMValGroup/ESMValCore.git
           cd ESMValCore
           pip install -e .[develop]
       - name: Run flake8
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: flake8
       - name: Run tests
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pytest -n 2 -m "not installation" 2>&1 | tee develop_test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/test_report.txt
       - name: Upload artifacts
         if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 9cb266eaed..4e2698454f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '0 0 * * *'
 
+# Required shell entrypoint to have properly configured bash shell
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -l {0}
+
 jobs:
   linux:
     runs-on: "ubuntu-latest"
@@ -29,36 +34,28 @@ jobs:
           miniforge-version: "latest"
           miniforge-variant: Mambaforge
           use-mamba: true
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
           # this is how to export variables to the GITHUB var environment
           echo "pver0=$(python -V)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - name: Install ESMValTool
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Install Julia dependencies
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: esmvaltool install Julia
       - name: Export Python minor version
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: echo "pver1=$(python -V)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - name: Exit if Python minor version changed
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         if: ${{ env.pver1 != env.pver0}}
         run: |
           echo "Python minor version changed after Julia install"
           python -V
           exit 1
       - name: Run flake8
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: flake8
       - name: Run tests
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pytest -n 2 -m "not installation" 2>&1 | tee test_linux_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/test_report.txt
       - name: Upload artifacts
         if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail
@@ -88,21 +85,16 @@ jobs:
           use-mamba: true
       # - name: Install libomp with homebrew
       #   run: brew install libomp
-      - shell: bash -l {0}
-        run: mkdir -p test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
+      - run: mkdir -p test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}
       - name: Record versions
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: |
           mamba --version 2>&1 | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/conda_version.txt
           python -V 2>&1 | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/python_version.txt
       - name: Install ESMValTool
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pip install -e .[develop] 2>&1 | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/install.txt
       - name: Run flake8
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: flake8
       - name: Run tests
-        shell: bash -l {0}
         run: pytest -n 2 -m "not installation" 2>&1 | tee test_osx_artifacts_python_${{ matrix.python-version }}/test_report.txt
       - name: Upload artifacts
         if: ${{ always() }}  # upload artifacts even if fail