diff --git a/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml b/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml
index 9c2de874c..36dba53fb 100644
--- a/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml
+++ b/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ background:
 background error:
   covariance model: SABER
   saber central block:
-    saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+    saber block name: diffusion
     geometry: *geom
     calibration:
       normalization:
diff --git a/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml b/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml
index 98370be7d..b66f06fb8 100644
--- a/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml
+++ b/parm/soca/berror/obsolete/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ background:
 background error:
   covariance model: SABER
   saber central block:
-    saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+    saber block name: diffusion
     geometry: *geom
     calibration:
       normalization:
diff --git a/parm/soca/berror/soca_hybrid_bmat.yaml b/parm/soca/berror/soca_hybrid_bmat.yaml
index 302cb6441..0e2340da8 100644
--- a/parm/soca/berror/soca_hybrid_bmat.yaml
+++ b/parm/soca/berror/soca_hybrid_bmat.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ components:
 - covariance:
     covariance model: SABER
     saber central block:
-      saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+      saber block name: diffusion
       active variables: [tocn, socn, ssh, cicen]
       geometry:
         mom6_input_nml: mom_input.nml
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ components:
     localization:
       localization method: SABER
       saber central block:
-        saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+        saber block name: diffusion
         active variables: [tocn, socn, ssh]
         geometry:
           mom6_input_nml: mom_input.nml
diff --git a/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml.j2 b/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml.j2
index d03cc5ba9..bc3f12b93 100644
--- a/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml.j2
+++ b/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_hz.yaml.j2
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ background:
 background error:
   covariance model: SABER
   saber central block:
-    saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+    saber block name: diffusion
     geometry: *geom
     calibration:
       normalization:
diff --git a/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml.j2 b/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml.j2
index ed08b6ab8..9101d6416 100644
--- a/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml.j2
+++ b/parm/soca/berror/soca_parameters_diffusion_vt.yaml.j2
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ background:
 background error:
   covariance model: SABER
   saber central block:
-    saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+    saber block name: diffusion
     geometry: *geom
     calibration:
       normalization:
diff --git a/parm/soca/berror/soca_static_bmat.yaml b/parm/soca/berror/soca_static_bmat.yaml
index 640af506c..7778345fb 100644
--- a/parm/soca/berror/soca_static_bmat.yaml
+++ b/parm/soca/berror/soca_static_bmat.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 covariance model: SABER
 saber central block:
-  saber block name: EXPLICIT_DIFFUSION
+  saber block name: diffusion
   active variables: [tocn, socn, ssh, cicen]
   geometry:
     mom6_input_nml: mom_input.nml