diff --git a/src/core/MOM.F90 b/src/core/MOM.F90
index 226fde6810..69835d6dcf 100644
--- a/src/core/MOM.F90
+++ b/src/core/MOM.F90
@@ -1079,8 +1079,8 @@ subroutine step_MOM_tracer_dyn(CS, G, GV, US, h, Time_local)
     if (associated(CS%tv%frazil)) call hchksum(CS%tv%frazil, &
                    "Pre-advection frazil", G%HI, haloshift=0)
     if (associated(CS%tv%salt_deficit)) call hchksum(CS%tv%salt_deficit, &
-                   "Pre-advection salt deficit", G%HI, haloshift=0)
-  ! call MOM_thermo_chksum("Pre-advection ", CS%tv, G)
+                   "Pre-advection salt deficit", G%HI, haloshift=0, scale=US%R_to_kg_m3*US%Z_to_m)
+  ! call MOM_thermo_chksum("Pre-advection ", CS%tv, G, US)
     call cpu_clock_end(id_clock_other)
   endif
 
@@ -1186,7 +1186,7 @@ subroutine step_MOM_thermo(CS, G, GV, US, u, v, h, tv, fluxes, dtdia, &
       call uvchksum("Pre-diabatic [uv]h", CS%uhtr, CS%vhtr, G%HI, &
                     haloshift=0, scale=GV%H_to_m*US%L_to_m**2)
     ! call MOM_state_chksum("Pre-diabatic ", u, v, h, CS%uhtr, CS%vhtr, G, GV, vel_scale=1.0)
-      call MOM_thermo_chksum("Pre-diabatic ", tv, G,haloshift=0)
+      call MOM_thermo_chksum("Pre-diabatic ", tv, G, US, haloshift=0)
       call check_redundant("Pre-diabatic ", u, v, G)
       call MOM_forcing_chksum("Pre-diabatic", fluxes, G, US, haloshift=0)
     endif
@@ -1268,8 +1268,8 @@ subroutine step_MOM_thermo(CS, G, GV, US, u, v, h, tv, fluxes, dtdia, &
       if (associated(tv%frazil)) call hchksum(tv%frazil, &
                                "Post-diabatic frazil", G%HI, haloshift=0)
       if (associated(tv%salt_deficit)) call hchksum(tv%salt_deficit, &
-                               "Post-diabatic salt deficit", G%HI, haloshift=0)
-    ! call MOM_thermo_chksum("Post-diabatic ", tv, G)
+                               "Post-diabatic salt deficit", G%HI, haloshift=0, scale=US%R_to_kg_m3*US%Z_to_m)
+    ! call MOM_thermo_chksum("Post-diabatic ", tv, G, US)
       call check_redundant("Post-diabatic ", u, v, G)
     endif
     call disable_averaging(CS%diag)
@@ -2910,7 +2910,7 @@ subroutine extract_surface_state(CS, sfc_state)
 
        if (G%mask2dT(i,j)>0.) then
          ! instantaneous melt_potential [J m-2]
-         sfc_state%melt_potential(i,j) = CS%tv%C_p * CS%US%R_to_kg_m3*GV%Rho0 * delT(i)
+         sfc_state%melt_potential(i,j) = CS%tv%C_p * US%R_to_kg_m3*GV%Rho0 * delT(i)
        endif
       enddo
     enddo ! end of j loop
@@ -2920,7 +2920,7 @@ subroutine extract_surface_state(CS, sfc_state)
     !$OMP parallel do default(shared)
     do j=js,je ; do i=is,ie
       ! Convert from gSalt to kgSalt
-      sfc_state%salt_deficit(i,j) = 1000.0 * CS%tv%salt_deficit(i,j)
+      sfc_state%salt_deficit(i,j) = 1000.0 * US%R_to_kg_m3*US%Z_to_m*CS%tv%salt_deficit(i,j)
     enddo ; enddo
   endif
   if (allocated(sfc_state%TempxPmE) .and. associated(CS%tv%TempxPmE)) then
diff --git a/src/core/MOM_checksum_packages.F90 b/src/core/MOM_checksum_packages.F90
index e8347881f7..659ca478ed 100644
--- a/src/core/MOM_checksum_packages.F90
+++ b/src/core/MOM_checksum_packages.F90
@@ -117,11 +117,12 @@ end subroutine MOM_state_chksum_3arg
 ! =============================================================================
 
 !> Write out chksums for the model's thermodynamic state variables.
-subroutine MOM_thermo_chksum(mesg, tv, G, haloshift)
+subroutine MOM_thermo_chksum(mesg, tv, G, US, haloshift)
   character(len=*),         intent(in) :: mesg !< A message that appears on the chksum lines.
   type(thermo_var_ptrs),    intent(in) :: tv   !< A structure pointing to various
                                                !! thermodynamic variables.
   type(ocean_grid_type),    intent(in) :: G    !< The ocean's grid structure.
+  type(unit_scale_type),    intent(in) :: US   !< A dimensional unit scaling type
   integer,        optional, intent(in) :: haloshift !< The width of halos to check (default 0).
 
   integer :: is, ie, js, je, nz, hs
@@ -131,7 +132,8 @@ subroutine MOM_thermo_chksum(mesg, tv, G, haloshift)
   if (associated(tv%T)) call hchksum(tv%T, mesg//" T",G%HI,haloshift=hs)
   if (associated(tv%S)) call hchksum(tv%S, mesg//" S",G%HI,haloshift=hs)
   if (associated(tv%frazil)) call hchksum(tv%frazil, mesg//" frazil",G%HI,haloshift=hs)
-  if (associated(tv%salt_deficit)) call hchksum(tv%salt_deficit, mesg//" salt deficit",G%HI,haloshift=hs)
+  if (associated(tv%salt_deficit)) &
+    call hchksum(tv%salt_deficit, mesg//" salt deficit",G%HI,haloshift=hs, scale=US%R_to_kg_m3*US%Z_to_m)
 
 end subroutine MOM_thermo_chksum
 
diff --git a/src/core/MOM_variables.F90 b/src/core/MOM_variables.F90
index 774a636daa..dc84c66930 100644
--- a/src/core/MOM_variables.F90
+++ b/src/core/MOM_variables.F90
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ module MOM_variables
   real, dimension(:,:), pointer :: salt_deficit => NULL()
                          !<   The salt needed to maintain the ocean column
                          !! at a minimum salinity of MIN_SALINITY since the last time
-                         !! that calculate_surface_state was called, [gSalt m-2].
+                         !! that calculate_surface_state was called, [ppt R Z ~> gSalt m-2].
   real, dimension(:,:), pointer :: TempxPmE => NULL()
                          !<   The net inflow of water into the ocean times the
                          !! temperature at which this inflow occurs since the
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ subroutine MOM_thermovar_chksum(mesg, tv, G)
   if (associated(tv%frazil)) &
     call hchksum(tv%frazil, mesg//" tv%frazil", G%HI)
   if (associated(tv%salt_deficit)) &
-    call hchksum(tv%salt_deficit, mesg//" tv%salt_deficit", G%HI)
+    call hchksum(tv%salt_deficit, mesg//" tv%salt_deficit", G%HI, scale=G%US%R_to_kg_m3*G%US%Z_to_m)
   if (associated(tv%TempxPmE)) &
     call hchksum(tv%TempxPmE, mesg//" tv%TempxPmE", G%HI, scale=G%US%R_to_kg_m3*G%US%Z_to_m)
 end subroutine MOM_thermovar_chksum
diff --git a/src/diagnostics/MOM_diagnostics.F90 b/src/diagnostics/MOM_diagnostics.F90
index 7e5adbb1d3..3fd7d3cafc 100644
--- a/src/diagnostics/MOM_diagnostics.F90
+++ b/src/diagnostics/MOM_diagnostics.F90
@@ -1794,7 +1794,7 @@ subroutine register_surface_diags(Time, G, IDs, diag, tv)
   endif
 
   IDs%id_salt_deficit = register_diag_field('ocean_model', 'salt_deficit', diag%axesT1, Time, &
-         'Salt sink in ocean due to ice flux', 'psu m-2 s-1')
+         'Salt sink in ocean due to ice flux', 'psu m-2 s-1', conversion=G%US%R_to_kg_m3*G%US%Z_to_m)
   IDs%id_Heat_PmE = register_diag_field('ocean_model', 'Heat_PmE', diag%axesT1, Time, &
          'Heat flux into ocean from mass flux into ocean', 'W m-2', conversion=G%US%R_to_kg_m3*G%US%Z_to_m)
   IDs%id_intern_heat = register_diag_field('ocean_model', 'internal_heat', diag%axesT1, Time,&
diff --git a/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_diabatic_aux.F90 b/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_diabatic_aux.F90
index d8c7517542..5ed7d02829 100644
--- a/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_diabatic_aux.F90
+++ b/src/parameterizations/vertical/MOM_diabatic_aux.F90
@@ -334,9 +334,9 @@ subroutine adjust_salt(h, tv, G, GV, CS, halo)
   integer,       optional, intent(in)    :: halo !< Halo width over which to work
 
   ! local variables
-  real :: salt_add_col(SZI_(G),SZJ_(G)) !< The accumulated salt requirement [gSalt m-2]
+  real :: salt_add_col(SZI_(G),SZJ_(G)) !< The accumulated salt requirement [ppt R Z ~> gSalt m-2]
   real :: S_min      !< The minimum salinity [ppt].
-  real :: mc         !< A layer's mass [kg m-2].
+  real :: mc         !< A layer's mass [R Z ~> kg m-2].
   integer :: i, j, k, is, ie, js, je, nz
 
   is = G%isc ; ie = G%iec ; js = G%jsc ; je = G%jec ; nz = G%ke
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ subroutine adjust_salt(h, tv, G, GV, CS, halo)
     do k=nz,1,-1 ; do i=is,ie
       if ( (G%mask2dT(i,j) > 0.0) .and. &
            ((tv%S(i,j,k) < S_min) .or. (salt_add_col(i,j) > 0.0)) ) then
-        mc = GV%H_to_kg_m2 * h(i,j,k)
+        mc = GV%H_to_RZ * h(i,j,k)
         if (h(i,j,k) <= 10.0*GV%Angstrom_H) then
           ! Very thin layers should not be adjusted by the salt flux
           if (tv%S(i,j,k) < S_min) then