# Cannot collapse to thinner bottom or top layer than input **URL:** \ **Category:** MCIP\ **Created:** [September 1, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/cannot-collapse-to-thinner-bottom-or-top-layer-than-input/4340 "2023-09-01T02:38:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dasol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@dasol](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/dasol)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/cannot-collapse-to-thinner-bottom-or-top-layer-than-input/4340/1 "2023-09-01T02:38:03Z")
Hi all, I’m trying to run MCIP, but error aborted in subroutine statflds. Here is my log file and run\_mcip.csh [run\_mcip.csh](https://forum.cmascenter.org/uploads/short-url/v5vmlq5rpCeOVXULodOQNeRuEdt.csh) (20.0 KB) [run\_mcip\_log.txt](https://forum.cmascenter.org/uploads/short-url/sRTRg3SA5NzEMuLfbCIFKacHefe.txt) (23.4 KB) Please help. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![tlspero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tlspero](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/tlspero)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/cannot-collapse-to-thinner-bottom-or-top-layer-than-input/4340/2 "2023-09-01T16:48:06Z")
Hi @dasol! MCIPv4.5 and predecessor versions have the option to “collapse” layers, but that option cannot extrapolate meteorology data downward (closer to the surface than the first level) or upward (closer to the model top than the last level) where you do not have bounding data. From the log file that you attached, it appears that you have 37 layers in your input meteorology, and the lowest layer has an eta (sigma) value of 0.993. In your namelist for MCIP, you specified that the lowest layer you want for CMAQ in VGLVS is 0.996. It appears that you are trying to extrapolate meteorology data closer to the surface than the lowest layer available in your input meteorology files. Therefore, you have an error. Please let me know if I misinterpreted the information you provided. –Tanya