diff --git a/ext/cuda/data_layouts_threadblock.jl b/ext/cuda/data_layouts_threadblock.jl
index de94621009..77fbb00d1e 100644
--- a/ext/cuda/data_layouts_threadblock.jl
+++ b/ext/cuda/data_layouts_threadblock.jl
@@ -170,6 +170,25 @@ end
 ##### Custom partitions
 #####
 
+##### linear partition
+@inline function linear_partition(
+    us::DataLayouts.UniversalSize,
+    n_max_threads::Integer,
+)
+    nitems = prod(DataLayouts.universal_size(us))
+    threads = min(nitems, n_max_threads)
+    blocks = cld(nitems, threads)
+    return (; threads, blocks)
+end
+@inline function linear_universal_index(us::UniversalSize)
+    i = (CUDA.blockIdx().x - Int32(1)) * CUDA.blockDim().x + CUDA.threadIdx().x
+    inds = DataLayouts.universal_size(us)
+    CI = CartesianIndices(map(x -> Base.OneTo(x), inds))
+    return (CI[i], i)
+end
+@inline linear_is_valid_index(i::Integer, us::UniversalSize) =
+    1 ≤ i ≤ DataLayouts.get_N(us)
+
 ##### Column-wise
 @inline function columnwise_partition(
     us::DataLayouts.UniversalSize,
diff --git a/ext/cuda/operators_finite_difference.jl b/ext/cuda/operators_finite_difference.jl
index c93b4e0797..677ac7691d 100644
--- a/ext/cuda/operators_finite_difference.jl
+++ b/ext/cuda/operators_finite_difference.jl
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ function Base.copyto!(
     bounds = Operators.window_bounds(space, bc)
     out_fv = Fields.field_values(out)
     us = DataLayouts.UniversalSize(out_fv)
+    nitems = prod(DataLayouts.universal_size(us))
     args =
         (strip_space(out, space), strip_space(bc, space), axes(out), bounds, us)
 
     threads = threads_via_occupancy(copyto_stencil_kernel!, args)
-    n_max_threads = min(threads, get_N(us))
-    p = partition(out_fv, n_max_threads)
+    n_max_threads = min(threads, nitems)
+    p = linear_partition(us, n_max_threads)
 
     auto_launch!(
         copyto_stencil_kernel!,
@@ -40,9 +41,8 @@ import ClimaCore.DataLayouts: get_N, get_Nv, get_Nij, get_Nij, get_Nh
 
 function copyto_stencil_kernel!(out, bc, space, bds, us)
     @inbounds begin
-        out_fv = Fields.field_values(out)
-        I = universal_index(out_fv)
-        if is_valid_index(out_fv, I, us)
+        (I, i_linear) = linear_universal_index(us)
+        if linear_is_valid_index(i_linear, us)
             (li, lw, rw, ri) = bds
             (i, j, _, v, h) = I.I
             hidx = (i, j, h)
diff --git a/src/DataLayouts/DataLayouts.jl b/src/DataLayouts/DataLayouts.jl
index 4b681164b3..9daaaf5fa0 100644
--- a/src/DataLayouts/DataLayouts.jl
+++ b/src/DataLayouts/DataLayouts.jl
@@ -87,8 +87,7 @@ is excluded and is returned as 1.
 
 Statically returns `prod((Ni, Nj, Nv, Nh))`
 """
-@inline get_N(::UniversalSize{Ni, Nj, Nv, Nh}) where {Ni, Nj, Nv, Nh} =
-    prod((Ni, Nj, Nv, Nh))
+@inline get_N(us::UniversalSize) = prod(universal_size(us))
 
 """
     get_Nv(::UniversalSize)