diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.atmanl b/parm/config/gfs/config.atmanl
index 0d388f94bd..abfbd80734 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.atmanl
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.atmanl
@@ -13,11 +13,8 @@ export STATICB_TYPE="gsibec"
 export BERROR_YAML=${HOMEgfs}/sorc/gdas.cd/parm/atm/berror/staticb_${STATICB_TYPE}.yaml
 export INTERP_METHOD='barycentric'
 
-export layout_x=1
-export layout_y=1
-
-export io_layout_x=1
-export io_layout_y=1
+export io_layout_x=@IO_LAYOUT_X@
+export io_layout_y=@IO_LAYOUT_Y@
 
 export JEDIEXE=${HOMEgfs}/exec/fv3jedi_var.x
 
diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.atmensanl b/parm/config/gfs/config.atmensanl
index 7a696fa734..58fd7b6e22 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.atmensanl
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.atmensanl
@@ -10,11 +10,8 @@ export OBS_LIST=${HOMEgfs}/sorc/gdas.cd/parm/atm/obs/lists/lgetkf_prototype.yaml
 export ATMENSYAML=${HOMEgfs}/sorc/gdas.cd/parm/atm/lgetkf/lgetkf.yaml
 export INTERP_METHOD='barycentric'
 
-export layout_x=1
-export layout_y=1
-
-export io_layout_x=1
-export io_layout_y=1
+export io_layout_x=@IO_LAYOUT_X@
+export io_layout_y=@IO_LAYOUT_Y@
 
 export JEDIEXE=${HOMEgfs}/exec/fv3jedi_letkf.x
 
diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/config.resources b/parm/config/gfs/config.resources
index 9919b81b7e..fc6624df98 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/config.resources
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/config.resources
@@ -189,6 +189,15 @@ elif [[ ${step} = "waveawipsgridded" ]]; then
 
 elif [[ "${step}" = "atmanlinit" ]]; then
 
+    # make below case dependent later
+    export layout_x=1
+    export layout_y=1
+
+    layout_gsib_x=$(echo "${layout_x} * 3" | bc)
+    export layout_gsib_x
+    layout_gsib_y=$(echo "${layout_y} * 2" | bc)
+    export layout_gsib_y
+
     export wtime_atmanlinit="00:10:00"
     export npe_atmanlinit=1
     export nth_atmanlinit=1
@@ -790,6 +799,10 @@ elif [[ ${step} = "stage_ic" ]]; then
 
 elif [[ "${step}" = "atmensanlinit" ]]; then
 
+    # make below case dependent later
+    export layout_x=1
+    export layout_y=1
+
     export wtime_atmensanlinit="00:10:00"
     export npe_atmensanlinit=1
     export nth_atmensanlinit=1
diff --git a/parm/config/gfs/yaml/defaults.yaml b/parm/config/gfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
index 8c2b4ff22b..c0298edb18 100644
--- a/parm/config/gfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
+++ b/parm/config/gfs/yaml/defaults.yaml
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@ base:
   DO_JEDILANDDA: "NO"
   DO_MERGENSST: "NO"
 
+atmanl:
+  IO_LAYOUT_X: 1
+  IO_LAYOUT_Y: 1
+
+atmensanl:
+  IO_LAYOUT_X: 1
+  IO_LAYOUT_Y: 1
+
 aeroanl:
   IO_LAYOUT_X: 1
   IO_LAYOUT_Y: 1