diff --git a/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml b/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml
index bbfb7c149a..bb8485f49d 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+z_max: 75000
+z_elem: 31
+rayleigh_sponge: true
 surface_setup: DefaultMoninObukhov
 rad: clearsky
 turbconv: diagnostic_edmfx
@@ -14,8 +17,7 @@ moist: equil
 cloud_model: "quadrature_sgs"
 precip_model: 1M
 dt: 100secs
-t_end: 12hours
-dt_save_state_to_disk: 12hours
+t_end: 6hours
 regression_test: true
 toml: [toml/diagnostic_edmfx.toml]
 ode_algo: ARS343
diff --git a/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet_gpu.yml b/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet_gpu.yml
index f311520ea3..87536d798a 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet_gpu.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/diagnostic_edmfx_aquaplanet_gpu.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+z_max: 75000.0
+z_elem: 25
 surface_setup: DefaultMoninObukhov
 rad: clearsky
 turbconv: diagnostic_edmfx
@@ -14,7 +16,6 @@ moist: equil
 cloud_model: "quadrature_sgs"
 precip_model: 1M
 dt: 100secs
-t_end: 12hours
-dt_save_state_to_disk: 12hours
+t_end: 6hours
 toml: [toml/diagnostic_edmfx.toml]
 ode_algo: ARS343
diff --git a/config/model_configs/prognostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml b/config/model_configs/prognostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml
index 5526883302..a4e517166d 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/prognostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/prognostic_edmfx_aquaplanet.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+z_max: 75000
+z_elem: 31
+rayleigh_sponge: true
 surface_setup: DefaultMoninObukhov
 rad: clearsky
 turbconv: prognostic_edmfx
diff --git a/config/model_configs/single_column_hydrostatic_balance_ft64.yml b/config/model_configs/single_column_hydrostatic_balance_ft64.yml
index 225a48d060..03dcd61a17 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/single_column_hydrostatic_balance_ft64.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/single_column_hydrostatic_balance_ft64.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
+z_max: 75000.0
 dz_bottom: 30.0
 dt_save_state_to_disk: "5days"
 initial_condition: "IsothermalProfile"
 config: "column"
 hyperdiff: false
-z_elem: 45
+z_elem: 63
 dt: "3hours"
 FLOAT_TYPE: "Float64"
 dt_save_to_sol: "3hours"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_allsky_idealized_clouds.yml b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_allsky_idealized_clouds.yml
index 10d5bc77b1..238b1c2df7 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_allsky_idealized_clouds.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_allsky_idealized_clouds.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ idealized_clouds: true
 dz_bottom: 30.0
 config: "column"
 insolation: "timevarying"
-z_max: 70000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
 dt_save_to_sol: "30hours"
 rad: "allskywithclear"
 diagnostics:
diff --git a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky.yml b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky.yml
index f8b197d806..5a5b5677de 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ idealized_h2o: true
 t_end: "654days"
 dz_bottom: 30.0
 config: "column"
-z_max: 70000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
 dt_save_to_sol: "30hours"
 rad: "clearsky"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky_prognostic_surface_temp.yml b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky_prognostic_surface_temp.yml
index e49d6ec462..17dbb08cb0 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky_prognostic_surface_temp.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_clearsky_prognostic_surface_temp.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ idealized_h2o: true
 hyperdiff: false
 config: "column"
 initial_condition: "IsothermalProfile"
-z_max: 70000
+z_max: 75000
 z_elem: 63
 dz_bottom: 30
 t_end: "654days"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_gray.yml b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_gray.yml
index 02b096b8fa..973f56cbf7 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_gray.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/single_column_radiative_equilibrium_gray.yml
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ initial_condition: "IsothermalProfile"
 hyperdiff: false
 # It seems radiative equilibrium needs a larger dz near the top
 # to be stable, so we use a smaller z_elem
-z_elem: 50
+z_elem: 63
 dt: "3hours"
 dt_rad: "3hours"
 t_end: "654days"
 dz_bottom: 30.0
 config: "column"
-z_max: 70000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
 dt_save_to_sol: "30hours"
 rad: "gray"
 # [2, 2, 80] instead of [1, 1, 80] because Julia ranges are inclusive of the
diff --git a/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_raw_zonallyasymmetric.yml b/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_raw_zonallyasymmetric.yml
index 65097acad1..080fefecba 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_raw_zonallyasymmetric.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_raw_zonallyasymmetric.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ non_orographic_gravity_wave: true
 dz_bottom: 300.0
 vert_diff: true
 insolation: "timevarying"
-z_max: 55000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
 precip_model: "0M"
 cloud_model: "grid_scale"
 surface_temperature: "ZonallyAsymmetric"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_res.yml b/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_res.yml
index 3ced2aaf4f..5f20a5fee3 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_res.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_res.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-z_elem: 25
-z_max: 55000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
+z_elem: 31
 dz_bottom: 300.0
 dt: "400secs"
 t_end: "1days"
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ orographic_gravity_wave: "gfdl_restart"
 surface_setup: "DefaultMoninObukhov"
 prescribe_ozone: true
 prescribed_aerosols: ["CB1", "CB2", "SO4"]
-toml: [toml/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_res.toml]
+toml: [toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml]
 diagnostics:
   - short_name: [edt, evu, mmrso4, mmrbcpo, mmrbcpi, o3]
     reduction_time: average
diff --git a/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_nonequilmoist_allsky.yml b/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_nonequilmoist_allsky.yml
index 1fed54c9c3..ef970c0fef 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_nonequilmoist_allsky.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_nonequilmoist_allsky.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 z_elem: 25
-z_max: 55000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
 dz_bottom: 300.0
 dt: "400secs"
 t_end: "18hours"
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ rad: "allskywithclear"
 insolation: "timevarying"
 rayleigh_sponge: true
 surface_setup: "DefaultMoninObukhov"
-toml: [toml/sphere_aquaplanet_rhoe_equilmoist_allsky_gw_res.toml]
+toml: [toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml]
diff --git a/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.yml b/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.yml
index 685851fb0a..16dedb3cb8 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.yml
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 dt_save_state_to_disk: "4days"
-rayleigh_sponge: true
-dt: "450secs"
-z_elem: 25
+dt: "400secs"
+z_elem: 31
 t_end: "4days"
 dz_bottom: 300.0
 vert_diff: true
 forcing: "held_suarez"
-z_max: 55000.0
+z_max: 75000.0
 precip_model: "0M"
 regression_test: true
+rayleigh_sponge: true
 viscous_sponge: true
 moist: "equil"
-toml: [toml/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.toml]
+toml: [toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml]
diff --git a/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_hightop.yml b/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_hightop.yml
index 6e9f232f5b..50bf455973 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_hightop.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_hightop.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+z_max: 75000.0
 dz_bottom: 300.0
 dt_save_state_to_disk: "4days"
 t_end: "8days"
 forcing: "held_suarez"
 dt: "400secs"
-z_elem: 25
+z_elem: 31
 deep_atmosphere: true
-z_max: 55000.0
+rayleigh_sponge: true
+toml: [toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml]
diff --git a/config/model_configs/sphere_hydrostatic_balance_rhoe_ft64.yml b/config/model_configs/sphere_hydrostatic_balance_rhoe_ft64.yml
index ea3cea15b8..0ef3642ff9 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/sphere_hydrostatic_balance_rhoe_ft64.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/sphere_hydrostatic_balance_rhoe_ft64.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 dt_save_state_to_disk: "8days"
 t_end: "8days"
 discrete_hydrostatic_balance: true
-hyperdiff: false
+hyperdiff: true
 perturb_initstate: false
 FLOAT_TYPE: "Float64"
 dt_save_to_sol: "600secs"
diff --git a/src/cache/tracer_cache.jl b/src/cache/tracer_cache.jl
index 4b57ab7589..e03d8d714d 100644
--- a/src/cache/tracer_cache.jl
+++ b/src/cache/tracer_cache.jl
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using ClimaUtilities.ClimaArtifacts
 import Dates: Year
 import ClimaUtilities.TimeVaryingInputs:
     TimeVaryingInput, LinearPeriodFillingInterpolation
+import Interpolations as Intp
 
 function tracer_cache(
     Y,
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ function tracer_cache(
         # time series of lon-lat-z data.
         prescribed_aerosol_names_as_symbols = Symbol.(prescribed_aerosol_names)
         target_space = axes(Y.c)
+        extrapolation_bc = (Intp.Periodic(), Intp.Flat(), Intp.Flat())
         timevaryinginputs = [
             TimeVaryingInput(
                 joinpath(
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ function tracer_cache(
                 target_space;
                 reference_date = start_date,
                 regridder_type = :InterpolationsRegridder,
+                regridder_kwargs = (; extrapolation_bc),
                 method = LinearPeriodFillingInterpolation(Year(1)),
             ) for name in prescribed_aerosol_names
         ]
diff --git a/toml/diagnostic_edmfx.toml b/toml/diagnostic_edmfx.toml
index 41c7c57094..4e415a01fb 100644
--- a/toml/diagnostic_edmfx.toml
+++ b/toml/diagnostic_edmfx.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+[zd_rayleigh]
+value = 50000.0
+
 [entr_inv_tau]
 value = 0.002
 
diff --git a/toml/prognostic_edmfx.toml b/toml/prognostic_edmfx.toml
index 654a543e81..9ba0a56378 100644
--- a/toml/prognostic_edmfx.toml
+++ b/toml/prognostic_edmfx.toml
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ value = 0
 [detr_coeff]
 value = 0
 
+[zd_rayleigh]
+value = 50000.0
+
 [detr_buoy_coeff]
 value = 0
 
diff --git a/toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml b/toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..46b16eedac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toml/sphere_held_suarez.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[zd_viscous]
+value = 50000.0
+
+[zd_rayleigh]
+value = 50000.0
+
diff --git a/toml/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.toml b/toml/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index cda298c679..0000000000
--- a/toml/sphere_held_suarez_rhoe_equilmoist_hightop_sponge.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-[zd_viscous]
-value = 30000.0
-
-[zd_rayleigh]
-value = 30000.0
-