diff --git a/scripts/exgdas_global_marine_analysis_vrfy.py b/scripts/exgdas_global_marine_analysis_vrfy.py
index 88a33f49b..fa72a148b 100755
--- a/scripts/exgdas_global_marine_analysis_vrfy.py
+++ b/scripts/exgdas_global_marine_analysis_vrfy.py
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
                     lats=np.arange(-60, 60, 10),
-                    variables_zonal=['Temp', 'Salt'],
-                    variables_horiz=['Temp', 'Salt', 'ave_ssh'],
-                    allbounds={'Temp': [-0.5, 0.5],
-                               'Salt': [-0.1, 0.1],
-                               'ave_ssh': [-0.1, 0.1]},
+                    variables_zonal={'Temp': [-0.5, 0.5],
+                                     'Salt': [-0.1, 0.1]},
+                    variables_horiz={'Temp': [-0.5, 0.5],
+                                     'Salt': [-0.1, 0.1],
+                                     'ave_ssh': [-0.1, 0.1]},
                     colormap='RdBu',
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'incr'))
 ocnIncPlotter = statePlotter(config)
@@ -66,10 +66,9 @@
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
                     lats=np.arange(-60, 60, 10),
-                    variables_horiz=['aicen', 'hicen', 'hsnon'],
-                    allbounds={'aicen': [-0.2, 0.2],
-                               'hicen': [-0.5, 0.5],
-                               'hsnon': [-0.1, 0.1]},
+                    variables_horiz={'aicen': [-0.2, 0.2],
+                                     'hicen': [-0.5, 0.5],
+                                     'hsnon': [-0.1, 0.1]},
                     colormap='RdBu',
                     projs=['North', 'South'],
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'incr'))
@@ -83,10 +82,9 @@
 data_file = os.path.join(comout, f'{RUN}.t'+cyc+'z.iceana.nc')
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
-                    variables_horiz=['aicen', 'hicen', 'hsnon'],
-                    allbounds={'aicen': [0.0, 1.0],
-                               'hicen': [0.0, 4.0],
-                               'hsnon': [0.0, 0.5]},
+                    variables_horiz={'aicen': [0.0, 1.0],
+                                     'hicen': [0.0, 4.0],
+                                     'hsnon': [0.0, 0.5]},
                     colormap='jet',
                     projs=['North', 'South', 'Global'],
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'ana'))
@@ -100,10 +98,9 @@
 data_file = os.path.join(com_ice_history, f'{RUN}.t{gcyc}z.icef006.nc')
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
-                    variables_horiz=['aice_h', 'hs_h', 'hi_h'],
-                    allbounds={'aice_h': [0.0, 1.0],
-                               'hs_h': [0.0, 4.0],
-                               'hi_h': [0.0, 0.5]},
+                    variables_horiz={'aice_h': [0.0, 1.0],
+                                     'hs_h': [0.0, 4.0],
+                                     'hi_h': [0.0, 0.5]},
                     colormap='jet',
                     projs=['North', 'South', 'Global'],
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'bkg'))
@@ -117,10 +114,9 @@
 data_file = os.path.join(comout, f'{RUN}.t'+cyc+'z.ocnana.nc')
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
-                    variables_horiz=['ave_ssh', 'Temp', 'Salt'],
-                    allbounds={'ave_ssh': [-1.8, 1.3],
-                               'Temp': [-1.8, 34.0],
-                               'Salt': [30, 38]},
+                    variables_horiz={'ave_ssh': [-1.8, 1.3],
+                                     'Temp': [-1.8, 34.0],
+                                     'Salt': [30, 38]},
                     colormap='jet',
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'ana'))
 ocnAnaPlotter = statePlotter(config)
@@ -133,10 +129,9 @@
 data_file = os.path.join(com_ocean_history, f'{RUN}.t{gcyc}z.ocnf006.nc')
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
-                    variables_horiz=['ave_ssh', 'Temp', 'Salt'],
-                    allbounds={'ave_ssh': [-1.8, 1.3],
-                               'Temp': [-1.8, 34.0],
-                               'Salt': [30, 38]},
+                    variables_horiz={'ave_ssh': [-1.8, 1.3],
+                                     'Temp': [-1.8, 34.0],
+                                     'Salt': [30, 38]},
                     colormap='jet',
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'bkg'))
 ocnBkgPlotter = statePlotter(config)
@@ -150,11 +145,11 @@
 config = plotConfig(grid_file=grid_file,
                     data_file=data_file,
                     lats=np.arange(-60, 60, 10),
-                    variables_zonal=['Temp', 'Salt'],
-                    variables_horiz=['Temp', 'Salt', 'ave_ssh'],
-                    allbounds={'Temp': [0, 2],
-                               'Salt': [0, 0.2],
-                               'ave_ssh': [0, 0.1]},
+                    variables_zonal={'Temp': [0, 2],
+                                     'Salt': [0, 0.2]},
+                    variables_horiz={'Temp': [0, 2],
+                                     'Salt': [0, 0.2],
+                                     'ave_ssh': [0, 0.1]},
                     colormap='jet',
                     comout=os.path.join(comout, 'vrfy', 'bkgerr'))
 bkgErrPlotter = statePlotter(config)
diff --git a/ush/soca/soca_vrfy.py b/ush/soca/soca_vrfy.py
index 248505711..2c8d602a0 100755
--- a/ush/soca/soca_vrfy.py
+++ b/ush/soca/soca_vrfy.py
@@ -19,14 +19,13 @@ def plotConfig(grid_file=[],
                data_file=[],
                variable=[],
                levels=[],
-               allbounds=[],
                bounds=[],
                colormap=[],
                max_depth=np.nan,
                max_depths=[700.0, 5000.0],
                comout=[],
-               variables_horiz=[],
-               variables_zonal=[],
+               variables_horiz={},
+               variables_zonal={},
                lat=np.nan,
                lats=np.arange(-60, 60, 10),
                proj='set me',
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ def plotConfig(grid_file=[],
     config['fields file'] = data_file
     config['levels'] = [1]
     config['colormap'] = colormap
-    config['all bounds'] = allbounds
     config['bounds'] = bounds
     config['lats'] = lats  # all the lats to plot
     config['lat'] = lat  # the lat being currently plotted
@@ -140,15 +138,18 @@ def plot(self):
             for max_depth in self.config['max depths']:
                 self.config['max depth'] = max_depth
 
-                for variable in self.config['zonal variables']:
-                    bounds = self.config['all bounds'][variable]
+                variableBounds = self.config['zonal variables']
+                for variable in variableBounds.keys():
+                    bounds = variableBounds[variable]
                     self.config.update({'variable': variable, 'bounds': bounds})
                     plotZonalSlice(self.config)
 
         #######################################
         # Horizontal slices
         for proj in self.config['projs']:
-            for variable in self.config['horiz variables']:
-                bounds = self.config['all bounds'][variable]
+
+            variableBounds = self.config['horiz variables']
+            for variable in variableBounds.keys():
+                bounds = variableBounds[variable]
                 self.config.update({'variable': variable, 'bounds': bounds, 'proj': proj})
                 plotHorizontalSlice(self.config)