diff --git a/config/namelist.io.nextGEMS b/config/namelist.io.nextGEMS
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c2b40ab64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/namelist.io.nextGEMS
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+&diag_list
+ldiag_solver     =.false.
+lcurt_stress_surf=.false.
+ldiag_curl_vel3  =.false.
+ldiag_Ri         =.false.
+ldiag_turbflux   =.false.
+ldiag_salt3D     =.false.
+ldiag_dMOC       =.false.
+ldiag_DVD        =.false.
+ldiag_forc       =.false.
+ldiag_extflds    =.false.
+/
+
+&nml_general
+io_listsize    =100 !number of streams to allocate. shallbe large or equal to the number of streams in &nml_list
+vec_autorotate =.false.
+lnextGEMS=.true.
+nlev_upper=10
+/
+
+! for sea ice related variables use_ice should be true, otherewise there will be no output
+! for 'curl_surf' to work lcurt_stress_surf must be .true. otherwise no output
+! for 'fer_C', 'bolus_u', 'bolus_v', 'bolus_w', 'fer_K' to work Fer_GM must be .true. otherwise no output
+! 'otracers' - all other tracers if applicable
+! for 'dMOC' to work ldiag_dMOC must be .true. otherwise no output
+&nml_list
+io_list =  'sst       ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'sss       ',1, 'm', 4,
+    	   'ssh       ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'uice      ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'vice      ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'a_ice     ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'm_ice     ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'm_snow    ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'MLD1      ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'MLD2      ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'MLD3      ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'tx_sur    ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'ty_sur    ',1, 'm', 4,
+           'temp      ',3, 'h', 4,
+           'salt      ',3, 'h', 8,
+           'N2        ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'Kv        ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'u         ',3, 'h', 4,
+           'v         ',3, 'h', 4,
+           'unod      ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'vnod      ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'w         ',3, 'h', 4,
+           'Av        ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'bolus_u   ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'bolus_v   ',1, 'y', 4,
+           'bolus_w   ',1, 'y', 4,
+/
diff --git a/src/ifs_interface/ifs_interface.F90 b/src/ifs_interface/ifs_interface.F90
index 0e4e2b6db..03aba0b48 100644
--- a/src/ifs_interface/ifs_interface.F90
+++ b/src/ifs_interface/ifs_interface.F90
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ SUBROUTINE nemogcmcoup_lim2_update( mype, npes, icomm, &
    ice_heat_flux=0. 	! Done. This is qns__ice currently. Is this the non-solar heat flux?    !   non solar heat fluxes below  !  (qns)
    oce_heat_flux=0. 	! Done. This is qns__oce currently. Is this the non-solar heat flux?
    !
-   runoff(:)=0.		! not used apparently. What is runoffIN, ocerunoff?
+   !runoff(:)=0.		! not used apparently. What is runoffIN, ocerunoff?
    !evaporation(:)=0.
    !ice_thermo_cpl.F90:  !---- total evaporation (needed in oce_salt_balance.F90)
    !ice_thermo_cpl.F90:  evaporation = evap_no_ifrac*(1.-a_ice) + sublimation*a_ice
diff --git a/src/io_meandata.F90 b/src/io_meandata.F90
index 5e6b0894f..05f463d9a 100644
--- a/src/io_meandata.F90
+++ b/src/io_meandata.F90
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ module io_MEANDATA
 !
   integer, save                  :: io_listsize   =0
   logical, save                  :: vec_autorotate=.FALSE.
+  logical, save                  :: lnextGEMS=.FALSE.
+  integer, save                  :: nlev_upper=1
   type io_entry
         CHARACTER(len=15)        :: id        ='unknown   '
         INTEGER                  :: freq      =0
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ subroutine ini_mean_io(ice, dynamics, tracers, partit, mesh)
     type(t_tracer), intent(in)   , target :: tracers
     type(t_dyn)   , intent(in)   , target :: dynamics
     type(t_ice)   , intent(in)   , target :: ice
-    namelist /nml_general / io_listsize, vec_autorotate
+    namelist /nml_general / io_listsize, vec_autorotate, lnextGEMS, nlev_upper
     namelist /nml_list    / io_list
 
 #include "associate_part_def.h"
@@ -617,7 +619,13 @@ subroutine ini_mean_io(ice, dynamics, tracers, partit, mesh)
 END SELECT ! --> SELECT CASE (trim(io_list(i)%id))
 END DO ! --> DO i=1, io_listsize
 
-
+    if (lnextGEMS) then        
+        call def_stream((/nlev_upper,   nod2D/),  (/nlev_upper,   myDim_nod2D/),  'temp_upper',   'temperature', 'C',         tracers%data(1)%values(:nlev_upper,:),  3, 'h', 4, partit, mesh)
+        call def_stream((/nlev_upper,   nod2D/),  (/nlev_upper,   myDim_nod2D/),  'salt_upper',  'salinity',    'psu',        tracers%data(2)%values(:nlev_upper,:),  3, 'h', 8, partit, mesh)
+        call def_stream((/nlev_upper,   elem2D/), (/nlev_upper,   myDim_elem2D/), 'u_upper',     'zonal velocity','m/s',      dynamics%uv(1,:nlev_upper,:),           3, 'h', 4, partit, mesh)
+        call def_stream((/nlev_upper,   elem2D/), (/nlev_upper,   myDim_elem2D/), 'v_upper',     'meridional velocity','m/s', dynamics%uv(2,:nlev_upper,:),           3, 'h', 4, partit, mesh)
+        call def_stream((/nlev_upper+1, nod2D/),  (/nlev_upper+1, myDim_nod2D/),  'w_upper',     'vertical velocity',  'm/s', dynamics%w(:nlev_upper+1,:),            3, 'h', 4, partit, mesh)
+    end if
     !___________________________________________________________________________
     ! Richardson number diagnostics
     if (ldiag_Ri) then