diff --git a/ccpp/driver/GFS_diagnostics.F90 b/ccpp/driver/GFS_diagnostics.F90
index 206dc01d0..9e7cbf49b 100644
--- a/ccpp/driver/GFS_diagnostics.F90
+++ b/ccpp/driver/GFS_diagnostics.F90
@@ -929,6 +929,22 @@ subroutine GFS_externaldiag_populate (ExtDiag, Model, Statein, Stateout, Sfcprop
       ExtDiag(idx)%data(nb)%var2 => IntDiag(nb)%fluxr(:,39)
     enddo
 
+!--- air quality diagnostics ---
+  if (Model%cplaqm) then
+    if (associated(IntDiag(1)%aod)) then
+      idx = idx + 1
+      ExtDiag(idx)%axes = 2
+      ExtDiag(idx)%name = 'aod'
+      ExtDiag(idx)%desc = 'total aerosol optical depth at 550 nm'
+      ExtDiag(idx)%unit = 'numerical'
+      ExtDiag(idx)%mod_name = 'gfs_phys'
+      allocate (ExtDiag(idx)%data(nblks))
+      do nb = 1,nblks
+        ExtDiag(idx)%data(nb)%var2 => IntDiag(nb)%aod
+      enddo
+    endif
+  endif
+
 !
 !
 !--- accumulated diagnostics ---
diff --git a/ccpp/physics b/ccpp/physics
index 6374c8862..312f63eab 160000
--- a/ccpp/physics
+++ b/ccpp/physics
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 6374c88626fee7de8484b1c6fd3bf2e165265dc5
+Subproject commit 312f63eab04893f95844f3a0fd3803c03fb1fe11