diff --git a/FV3GFS/FV3GFS_io.F90 b/FV3GFS/FV3GFS_io.F90
index 259b100d..bec644ec 100644
--- a/FV3GFS/FV3GFS_io.F90
+++ b/FV3GFS/FV3GFS_io.F90
@@ -166,21 +166,22 @@ module FV3GFS_io_mod
 !--------------------
 ! FV3GFS_restart_read
 !--------------------
-  subroutine FV3GFS_restart_read (IPD_Data, IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
+  subroutine FV3GFS_restart_read (IPD_Data, IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain, enforce_rst_cksum)
     type(IPD_data_type),      intent(inout) :: IPD_Data(:)
     type(IPD_restart_type),   intent(inout) :: IPD_Restart
     type(block_control_type), intent(in)    :: Atm_block
     type(IPD_control_type),   intent(inout) :: Model
     type(domain2d),           intent(in)    :: fv_domain
+    logical,                  intent(in)    :: enforce_rst_cksum
 
     !--- read in surface data from chgres
-    call sfc_prop_restart_read (IPD_Data%Sfcprop, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
+    call sfc_prop_restart_read (IPD_Data%Sfcprop, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain, enforce_rst_cksum)
 
     !--- read in
     if (Model%sfc_override) call sfc_prop_override  (IPD_Data%Sfcprop, IPD_Data%Grid, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
 
     !--- read in physics restart data
-    call phys_restart_read (IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
+    call phys_restart_read (IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain, enforce_rst_cksum)
 
   end subroutine FV3GFS_restart_read
 
@@ -834,12 +835,13 @@ end subroutine register_sfc_prop_restart_vars
 !    opens:  oro_data.tile?.nc, sfc_data.tile?.nc
 !
 !----------------------------------------------------------------------
-  subroutine sfc_prop_restart_read (Sfcprop, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
+  subroutine sfc_prop_restart_read (Sfcprop, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain, enforce_rst_cksum)
     !--- interface variable definitions
     type(GFS_sfcprop_type),    intent(inout) :: Sfcprop(:)
     type (block_control_type), intent(in)    :: Atm_block
     type(IPD_control_type),    intent(inout) :: Model
     type (domain2d),           intent(in)    :: fv_domain
+    logical,                   intent(in)    :: enforce_rst_cksum
     !--- local variables
     integer :: i, j, k, ix, lsoil, num, nb
     integer :: isc, iec, jsc, jec, npz, nx, ny
@@ -925,7 +927,7 @@ subroutine sfc_prop_restart_read (Sfcprop, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
 
       !--- read the orography restart/data
       call mpp_error(NOTE,'reading topographic/orographic information from INPUT/oro_data.tile*.nc')
-      call read_restart(Oro_restart)
+      call read_restart(Oro_restart, ignore_checksum=enforce_rst_cksum)
       call close_file(Oro_restart)
 
       !--- copy data into GFS containers
@@ -1003,7 +1005,7 @@ subroutine sfc_prop_restart_read (Sfcprop, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
 
       !--- read the surface restart/data
       call mpp_error(NOTE,'reading surface properties data from INPUT/sfc_data.tile*.nc')
-      call read_restart(Sfc_restart)
+      call read_restart(Sfc_restart, ignore_checksum=enforce_rst_cksum)
       call close_file(Sfc_restart)
 
       !--- place the data into the block GFS containers
@@ -2371,12 +2373,13 @@ end subroutine register_coarse_sfc_prop_restart_fields
 !    opens:  phys_data.tile?.nc
 !
 !----------------------------------------------------------------------
-  subroutine phys_restart_read (IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
+  subroutine phys_restart_read (IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain, enforce_rst_cksum)
     !--- interface variable definitions
     type(IPD_restart_type),      intent(in) :: IPD_Restart
     type(block_control_type),    intent(in) :: Atm_block
     type(IPD_control_type),      intent(in) :: Model
     type(domain2d),              intent(in) :: fv_domain
+    logical,                     intent(in) :: enforce_rst_cksum
     !--- local variables
     integer :: i, j, k, nb, ix, num
     integer :: isc, iec, jsc, jec, npz, nx, ny
@@ -2439,7 +2442,7 @@ subroutine phys_restart_read (IPD_Restart, Atm_block, Model, fv_domain)
 
       !--- read the surface restart/data
       call mpp_error(NOTE,'reading physics restart data from INPUT/phy_data.tile*.nc')
-      call read_restart(Phy_restart)
+      call read_restart(Phy_restart, ignore_checksum=enforce_rst_cksum)
       call close_file(Phy_restart)
     else
       call mpp_error(NOTE,'No physics restarts - cold starting physical parameterizations')
diff --git a/atmos_drivers/coupled/atmos_model.F90 b/atmos_drivers/coupled/atmos_model.F90
index 783b76bd..80fcf650 100644
--- a/atmos_drivers/coupled/atmos_model.F90
+++ b/atmos_drivers/coupled/atmos_model.F90
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ module atmos_model_mod
                               IPD_radiation_step,             &
                               IPD_physics_step1,              &
                               IPD_physics_step2
-#ifdef STOCHY 
+#ifdef STOCHY
 use stochastic_physics, only: init_stochastic_physics,         &
                               run_stochastic_physics
 use stochastic_physics_sfc, only: run_stochastic_physics_sfc
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ module atmos_model_mod
 !<PUBLICTYPE >
  type atmos_data_type
      type (domain2d)               :: domain             ! domain decomposition
-     integer                       :: axes(4)            ! axis indices (returned by diag_manager) for the atmospheric grid 
+     type (domain2d)               :: domain_for_read    ! domain decomposition for reads
+     integer                       :: axes(4)            ! axis indices (returned by diag_manager) for the atmospheric grid
                                                          ! (they correspond to the x, y, pfull, phalf axes)
      real,                 pointer, dimension(:,:) :: lon_bnd  => null() ! local longitude axis grid box corners in radians.
      real,                 pointer, dimension(:,:) :: lat_bnd  => null() ! local latitude axis grid box corners in radians.
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ module atmos_model_mod
      integer                       :: iau_offset         ! iau running window length
      integer, pointer              :: pelist(:) =>null() ! pelist where atmosphere is running.
      logical                       :: pe                 ! current pe.
-     type(grid_box_type)           :: grid               ! hold grid information needed for 2nd order conservative flux exchange 
+     type(grid_box_type)           :: grid               ! hold grid information needed for 2nd order conservative flux exchange
                                                          ! to calculate gradient on cubic sphere grid.
      integer                       :: layout(2)          ! computer task laytout
      logical                       :: regional           ! true if domain is regional
@@ -159,9 +160,13 @@ module atmos_model_mod
 logical :: sync            = .false.
 logical :: first_time_step = .true.
 logical :: fprint          = .true.
+logical :: enforce_rst_cksum = .true. ! enforce or override data integrity restart checksums
 real, dimension(4096) :: fdiag = 0. ! xic: TODO: this is hard coded, space can run out in some cases. Should make it allocatable.
-logical :: fdiag_override = .false. ! lmh: if true overrides fdiag and fhzer: all quantities are zeroed out after every calcluation, output interval and accumulation/avg/max/min are controlled by diag_manager, fdiag controls output interval only
-namelist /atmos_model_nml/ blocksize, chksum_debug, dycore_only, debug, sync, first_time_step, fdiag, fprint, fdiag_override
+logical :: fdiag_override = .false. ! lmh: if true overrides fdiag and fhzer: all quantities are zeroed out
+                                    ! after every calcluation, output interval and accumulation/avg/max/min
+                                    ! are controlled by diag_manager, fdiag controls output interval only
+namelist /atmos_model_nml/ blocksize, chksum_debug, dycore_only, debug, sync, first_time_step, fdiag, fprint, &
+                           fdiag_override, enforce_rst_cksum
 type (time_type) :: diag_time, diag_time_fhzero
 logical :: fdiag_fix = .false.
 
@@ -201,7 +206,7 @@ module atmos_model_mod
 !   atmospheric tendencies for dynamics, radiation, vertical diffusion of
 !   momentum, tracers, and heat/moisture.  For heat/moisture only the
 !   downward sweep of the tridiagonal elimination is performed, hence
-!   the name "_down". 
+!   the name "_down".
 !</DESCRIPTION>
 
 !   <TEMPLATE>
@@ -345,7 +350,7 @@ subroutine atmos_model_init (Atmos, Time_init, Time, Time_step, iau_offset)
 
   type (atmos_data_type), intent(inout) :: Atmos
   type (time_type), intent(in) :: Time_init, Time, Time_step
-  integer, intent(in) :: iau_offset 
+  integer, intent(in) :: iau_offset
 !--- local variables ---
   integer :: unit, ntdiag, ntfamily, i, j, k
   integer :: mlon, mlat, nlon, nlat, nlev, sec, dt, sec_prev
@@ -367,7 +372,7 @@ subroutine atmos_model_init (Atmos, Time_init, Time, Time_step, iau_offset)
   integer :: kdt_prev
   character(len=32), allocatable, target :: tracer_names(:)
   integer :: coarse_diagnostic_axes(4)
-  integer :: nthrds 
+  integer :: nthrds
   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 !---- set the atmospheric model time ------
@@ -408,16 +413,18 @@ subroutine atmos_model_init (Atmos, Time_init, Time, Time_step, iau_offset)
    call atmosphere_resolution (nlon, nlat, global=.false.)
    call atmosphere_resolution (mlon, mlat, global=.true.)
    call alloc_atmos_data_type (nlon, nlat, Atmos)
-   call atmosphere_domain (Atmos%domain, Atmos%layout, Atmos%regional, Atmos%bounded_domain)
+   call atmosphere_domain (Atmos%domain, Atmos%domain_for_read, Atmos%layout, Atmos%regional, &
+                           Atmos%bounded_domain)
    call atmosphere_diag_axes (Atmos%axes)
    call atmosphere_etalvls (Atmos%ak, Atmos%bk, flip=.true.)
    call atmosphere_grid_bdry (Atmos%lon_bnd, Atmos%lat_bnd, global=.false.)
    call atmosphere_grid_ctr (Atmos%lon, Atmos%lat)
    call atmosphere_hgt (Atmos%layer_hgt, 'layer', relative=.false., flip=.true.)
    call atmosphere_hgt (Atmos%level_hgt, 'level', relative=.false., flip=.true.)
-   call atmosphere_coarse_graining_parameters(Atmos%coarse_domain, Atmos%write_coarse_restart_files, Atmos%write_only_coarse_intermediate_restarts)
+   call atmosphere_coarse_graining_parameters(Atmos%coarse_domain, Atmos%write_coarse_restart_files, &
+                                              Atmos%write_only_coarse_intermediate_restarts)
    call atmosphere_coarsening_strategy(Atmos%coarsening_strategy)
-   
+
 !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 !--- before going any further check definitions for 'blocks'
 !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -539,7 +546,7 @@ subroutine atmos_model_init (Atmos, Time_init, Time, Time_step, iau_offset)
        call register_coarse_diag_manager_controlled_diagnostics(Time, coarse_diagnostic_axes)
     endif
    if (.not. dycore_only) &
-      call FV3GFS_restart_read (IPD_Data, IPD_Restart, Atm_block, IPD_Control, Atmos%domain)
+      call FV3GFS_restart_read (IPD_Data, IPD_Restart, Atm_block, IPD_Control, Atmos%domain_for_read, enforce_rst_cksum)
       if (chksum_debug) then
         if (mpp_pe() == mpp_root_pe()) print *,'RESTART READ  ', IPD_Control%kdt, IPD_Control%fhour
         call FV3GFS_IPD_checksum(IPD_Control, IPD_Data, Atm_block)
@@ -628,7 +635,7 @@ subroutine update_atmos_model_state (Atmos)
   integer :: isec,seconds,isec_fhzero
   real(kind=kind_phys) :: time_int, time_intfull
   integer :: is, ie, js, je, kt
-  
+
     call set_atmosphere_pelist()
     call mpp_clock_begin(fv3Clock)
     call mpp_clock_begin(updClock)
@@ -650,7 +657,7 @@ subroutine update_atmos_model_state (Atmos)
        Atm(mygrid)%coarse_graining%write_coarse_diagnostics, &
        real(Atm(mygrid)%delp(is:ie,js:je,:), kind=kind_phys), &
        Atmos%coarsening_strategy, real(Atm(mygrid)%ptop, kind=kind_phys))
-    
+
     call get_time (Atmos%Time - diag_time, isec)
     call get_time (Atmos%Time - Atmos%Time_init, seconds)
 
@@ -720,7 +727,7 @@ subroutine atmos_model_end (Atmos)
 
 !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 !---- termination routine for atmospheric model ----
-                                              
+
     call atmosphere_end (Atmos % Time, Atmos%grid)
     if (.not. dycore_only) then
        call FV3GFS_restart_write (IPD_Data, IPD_Restart, Atm_block, &
@@ -786,7 +793,7 @@ end subroutine atmos_model_restart
 ! </IN>
 !
 subroutine atmos_data_type_chksum(id, timestep, atm)
-type(atmos_data_type), intent(in) :: atm 
+type(atmos_data_type), intent(in) :: atm
     character(len=*), intent(in) :: id
     integer         , intent(in) :: timestep
     integer :: n, outunit