diff --git a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
index 1b5e3a47d6..f650e7d07d 100644
--- a/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/pipeline.yml
@@ -242,10 +242,10 @@ steps:
       #   command: "julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --coupled true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --moist equil --vert_diff true --rad allskywithclear --rayleigh_sponge false --energy_check true --mode_name slabplanet --t_end 10days --dt_save_to_sol 3600secs --dt_cpl 21600 --dt 200secs --dt_rad 6hours --idealized_insolation true --mono_surface true --h_elem 4 --precip_model 0M --run_name target_params_in_slab1"
       #   artifact_paths: "experiments/AMIP/modular/output/slabplanet/target_params_in_slab1_artifacts/total_energy*.png"
 
-      - label: "AMIP - modular Float64 + monthly checkpoint"
+      - label: "AMIP - modular Float64 + hourly checkpoint"
         key: "modular_amip"
-        command: "julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --config_file $CONFIG_PATH/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints.yml"
-        artifact_paths: "experiments/AMIP/modular/output/amip/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_artifacts/*"
+        command: "julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --config_file $CONFIG_PATH/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints.yml"
+        artifact_paths: "experiments/AMIP/modular/output/amip/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_artifacts/*"
         env:
           FLAME_PLOT: ""
           BUILD_HISTORY_HANDLE: ""
@@ -253,10 +253,10 @@ steps:
           slurm_ntasks: 1
           slurm_mem: 20GB
 
-      - label: "AMIP - modular Float64 + monthly checkpoint + co2"
-        key: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2"
-        command: "julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --config_file $CONFIG_PATH/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2.yml"
-        artifact_paths: "experiments/AMIP/modular/output/amip/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2_artifacts/*"
+      - label: "AMIP - modular Float64 + hourly checkpoint + co2"
+        key: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2"
+        command: "julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --config_file $CONFIG_PATH/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2.yml"
+        artifact_paths: "experiments/AMIP/modular/output/amip/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2_artifacts/*"
         env:
           FLAME_PLOT: ""
           BUILD_HISTORY_HANDLE: ""
diff --git a/config/longrun_configs/dyamond_target.yml b/config/longrun_configs/dyamond_target.yml
index bd574b1cc0..fbae6b5f37 100644
--- a/config/longrun_configs/dyamond_target.yml
+++ b/config/longrun_configs/dyamond_target.yml
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@ dt_save_to_disk: "0.5days"
 turb_flux_partition: "CombinedStateFluxes"
 atmos_config_file: "config/longrun_configs/longrun_aquaplanet_dyamond.yml"
 atmos_toml_file: "toml/longrun_aquaplanet_dyamond.toml"
-monthly_checkpoint: false
+hourly_checkpoint: false
diff --git a/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints.yml b/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints.yml
similarity index 64%
rename from config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints.yml
rename to config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints.yml
index ec9df3362c..05d902c8dc 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-run_name: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints"
-monthly_checkpoint: true
+run_name: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints"
+hourly_checkpoint: true
 moist: "equil"
 vert_diff: "true"
 rad: "gray"
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ h_elem: 6
 dt_save_restart: "10days"
 precip_model: "0M"
 apply_limiter: false
-job_id: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints"
+job_id: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2.yml b/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2.yml
similarity index 64%
rename from config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2.yml
rename to config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2.yml
index dd5270a4d5..cb4e7f7b5c 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-run_name: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2"
-monthly_checkpoint: true
+run_name: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2"
+hourly_checkpoint: true
 moist: "equil"
 vert_diff: "true"
 rad: "allskywithclear"
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ h_elem: 6
 dt_save_restart: "10days"
 precip_model: "0M"
 apply_limiter: false
-job_id: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_monthly_checkpoints_co2"
+job_id: "coarse_single_modular_ft64_hourly_checkpoints_co2"
diff --git a/config/model_configs/interactive_debug.yml b/config/model_configs/interactive_debug.yml
index db0ba1bfbc..a5ec7c15dc 100644
--- a/config/model_configs/interactive_debug.yml
+++ b/config/model_configs/interactive_debug.yml
@@ -14,4 +14,4 @@ dt_save_restart: "5days"
 precip_model: "0M"
 run_name: "interactive_debug_run"
 job_id: "interactive_debug_run"
-monthly_checkpoint: true
\ No newline at end of file
+hourly_checkpoint: true
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh b/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh
index 634dc1b757..d2ca6c8bc8 100644
--- a/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh
+++ b/test/mpi_tests/local_checks.sh
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ julia --project=artifacts -e 'using Pkg; Pkg.status()'
 julia --project=artifacts artifacts/download_artifacts.jl
 
 # run spin up
-# - specify `--monthly_checkpoint true` to save monthly checkpoints of all model prognostic states
-mpiexec julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --run_name $RUN_NAME --coupled true   --start_date 19790101 --monthly_checkpoint true  --anim true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --dt_cpl 200 --energy_check false --mode_name amip --mono_surface false --vert_diff true --moist equil --rad clearsky --precip_model 0M --z_elem 35 --dz_bottom 50 --h_elem 12 --kappa_4 3e16 --rayleigh_sponge true --alpha_rayleigh_uh 0 --dt 200secs --t_end 0.1days --job_id $RUN_NAME --dt_save_to_sol 1000days --dt_save_to_disk 10days --apply_limiter false --FLOAT_TYPE Float64
+# - specify `--hourly_checkpoint true` to save monthly checkpoints of all model prognostic states
+mpiexec julia --color=yes --project=experiments/AMIP/modular/ experiments/AMIP/modular/coupler_driver_modular.jl --run_name $RUN_NAME --coupled true   --start_date 19790101 --hourly_checkpoint true  --anim true --surface_setup PrescribedSurface --dt_cpl 200 --energy_check false --mode_name amip --mono_surface false --vert_diff true --moist equil --rad clearsky --precip_model 0M --z_elem 35 --dz_bottom 50 --h_elem 12 --kappa_4 3e16 --rayleigh_sponge true --alpha_rayleigh_uh 0 --dt 200secs --t_end 0.1days --job_id $RUN_NAME --dt_save_to_sol 1000days --dt_save_to_disk 10days --apply_limiter false --FLOAT_TYPE Float64
 
 # init using a restart
 # - specify the directory of the `checkpoint/` folder (i.e.,  `--restart_dir`) and time (in secs; `--restart_t`) of the restart file