diff --git a/parm/config/gefs/config.fcst b/parm/config/gefs/config.fcst
index 5c592556c8..cadb3d9b3e 100644
--- a/parm/config/gefs/config.fcst
+++ b/parm/config/gefs/config.fcst
@@ -108,18 +108,21 @@ if (( gwd_opt == 2 )); then
 fi
 
 # Sponge layer settings
-export tau=0.
-export rf_cutoff=10.
+# export tau=0.                 ; #moved to config.ufs
+# export rf_cutoff=10.          ; #moved to config.ufs
+ 
 export d2_bg_k1=0.20
 export d2_bg_k2=0.04
 export dz_min=6
 export n_sponge=42
-if (( LEVS == 128 )) && [[ "${CDUMP}" =~ "gdas" ]]; then
-   export tau=5.0
-   export rf_cutoff=1.0e3
-   export d2_bg_k1=0.20
-   export d2_bg_k2=0.0
-fi
+
+## comment out the follow 6 lines to apply the same damping options to both GFS and GDAS cycles
+#if (( LEVS == 128 )) && [[ "${CDUMP}" =~ "gdas" ]]; then
+#   export tau=5.0
+#   export rf_cutoff=1.0e3
+#   export d2_bg_k1=0.20
+#   export d2_bg_k2=0.0
+#fi
 
 # PBL/turbulance schemes
 export hybedmf=".false."
diff --git a/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs b/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
index b8695b6dbb..b16862a24b 100644
--- a/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
+++ b/parm/config/gefs/config.ufs
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export nthreads_ufs_gfs=1
         export cdmbgwd="0.071,2.1,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="40.0,1.77,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
+	export k_split=1
+	export n_split=4
+	export tau=10.0
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+        export fv_sg_adj=3600
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=6.0e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
         export WRITE_GROUP=1
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=1
@@ -101,13 +106,18 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="0.14,1.8,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="20.0,2.5,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=3.0e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+        export k_split=1
+	export n_split=4
+	export tau=8.0
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+        export fv_sg_adj=1800
         export WRITE_GROUP=1
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=1
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=1
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE_GFS=1
         ;;
     "C192")
-        export DELTIM=450
+        export DELTIM=600
         export layout_x=4
         export layout_y=6
         export layout_x_gfs=4
@@ -119,6 +129,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="0.23,1.5,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="10.0,3.5,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=1.5e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	export k_split=2
+	export n_split=4
+	export tau=6.0
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+	export fv_sg_adj=1800
         export WRITE_GROUP=1
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=2
@@ -137,6 +152,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="1.1,0.72,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="5.0,5.0,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.8e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+        export k_split=2
+        export n_split=4
+        export tau=4.0
+        export rf_cutoff=100.0
+        export fv_sg_adj=900
         export WRITE_GROUP=2
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=8
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=2
@@ -155,13 +175,18 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="4.0,0.15,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="2.5,7.5,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.5e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	export k_split=2
+	export n_split=4
+	export tau=3.0
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+	export fv_sg_adj=450
         export WRITE_GROUP=2
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE_GFS=20 #Note this should be 10 for WCOSS2
         ;;
     "C1152")
-        export DELTIM=120
+        export DELTIM=150
         export layout_x=8
         export layout_y=16
         export layout_x_gfs=8
@@ -173,6 +198,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="4.0,0.10,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="1.67,8.8,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.35e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+        export k_split=2
+        export n_split=6
+        export tau=2.5
+        export rf_cutoff=100.0
+ 	export fv_sg_adj=450
         export WRITE_GROUP=4
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10  # TODO: refine these numbers when a case is available
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4
@@ -191,6 +221,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="4.0,0.05,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="0.625,14.1,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.13e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	export k_split=4
+	export n_split=5
+	export tau=0.5
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+	export fv_sg_adj=300
         export WRITE_GROUP=4
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10  # TODO: refine these numbers when a case is available
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4
diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.fcst b/parm/config/gfs/config.fcst
index 63273e0fe4..33ba33af61 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.fcst
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.fcst
@@ -120,18 +120,21 @@ if (( gwd_opt == 2 )); then
 fi
 
 # Sponge layer settings
-export tau=0.
-export rf_cutoff=10.
+# export tau=0.                 ; #moved to config.ufs
+# export rf_cutoff=10.          ; #moved to config.ufs
+
 export d2_bg_k1=0.20
 export d2_bg_k2=0.04
 export dz_min=6
 export n_sponge=42
-if (( LEVS == 128 )) && [[ "${CDUMP}" =~ "gdas" ]]; then
-   export tau=5.0
-   export rf_cutoff=1.0e3
-   export d2_bg_k1=0.20
-   export d2_bg_k2=0.0
-fi
+
+## comment out the follow 6 lines to apply the same damping options to both GFS and GDAS cycles
+#if (( LEVS == 128 )) && [[ "${CDUMP}" =~ "gdas" ]]; then
+#   export tau=5.0
+#   export rf_cutoff=1.0e3
+#   export d2_bg_k1=0.20
+#   export d2_bg_k2=0.0
+#fi
 
 # PBL/turbulance schemes
 export hybedmf=".false."
diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs b/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs
index e37e46cf70..103591d50b 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.ufs
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="0.071,2.1,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="40.0,1.77,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=6.0e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	export k_split=1
+	export n_split=4
+	export tau=10.0
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+	export fv_sg_adj=3600
         export WRITE_GROUP=1
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=1
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=1
@@ -135,6 +140,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
           export cdmbgwd="0.14,1.8,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
           export cdmbgwd_gsl="20.0,2.5,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
           export knob_ugwp_tauamp=3.0e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+          export k_split=1
+          export n_split=4
+          export tau=8.0
+          export rf_cutoff=100.0
+          export fv_sg_adj=1800
           export WRITE_GROUP=1
           export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=1
           export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=1
@@ -160,7 +170,7 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
           export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=2
           export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE_GFS=15
         else
-          export DELTIM=450
+          export DELTIM=600
           export layout_x=4
           export layout_y=6
           export layout_x_gfs=4
@@ -172,6 +182,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
           export cdmbgwd="0.23,1.5,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
           export cdmbgwd_gsl="10.0,3.5,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
           export knob_ugwp_tauamp=1.5e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+          export k_split=2
+	  export n_split=4
+	  export tau=6.0
+	  export rf_cutoff=100.0
+	  export fv_sg_adj=1800
           export WRITE_GROUP=1
           export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10
           export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=2
@@ -211,6 +226,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
           export cdmbgwd="1.1,0.72,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
           export cdmbgwd_gsl="5.0,5.0,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
           export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.8e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+          export k_split=2
+          export n_split=4
+          export tau=4.0
+          export rf_cutoff=100.0
+          export fv_sg_adj=900
           export WRITE_GROUP=4
           export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10
           export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4
@@ -252,6 +272,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
           export cdmbgwd="4.0,0.15,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
           export cdmbgwd_gsl="2.5,7.5,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
           export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.5e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	  export k_split=2
+	  export n_split=4
+	  export tau=3.0
+	  export rf_cutoff=100.0
+          export fv_sg_adj=450
           export WRITE_GROUP=2
           export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10
           export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4
@@ -259,7 +284,7 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         fi
         ;;
     "C1152")
-        export DELTIM=120
+        export DELTIM=150
         export layout_x=8
         export layout_y=16
         export layout_x_gfs=8
@@ -271,6 +296,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="4.0,0.10,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="1.67,8.8,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.35e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	export k_split=2
+	export n_split=6
+	export tau=2.5
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+        export fv_sg_adj=450
         export WRITE_GROUP=4
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10  # TODO: refine these numbers when a case is available
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4
@@ -289,6 +319,11 @@ case "${fv3_res}" in
         export cdmbgwd="4.0,0.05,1.0,1.0"  # mountain blocking, ogwd, cgwd, cgwd src scaling
         export cdmbgwd_gsl="0.625,14.1,1.0,1.0"   # settings for GSL drag suite
         export knob_ugwp_tauamp=0.13e-3      # setting for UGWPv1 non-stationary GWD
+	export k_split=4
+	export n_split=5
+	export tau=0.5
+	export rf_cutoff=100.0
+        export fv_sg_adj=300
         export WRITE_GROUP=4
         export WRTTASK_PER_GROUP_PER_THREAD_PER_TILE=10  # TODO: refine these numbers when a case is available
         export WRITE_GROUP_GFS=4