diff --git a/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F b/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F
index 7d43b5ee83..ba0ac56c8d 100644
--- a/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F
+++ b/src/core_init_atmosphere/mpas_init_atm_cases.F
@@ -211,7 +211,15 @@ subroutine init_atm_setup_case(domain, stream_manager)
             end if
 
             if (config_static_interp) then
-               call init_atm_static(mesh, block_ptr % dimensions, block_ptr % configs)
+               if ( on_unit_sphere(domain % dminfo, mesh) ) then
+                  call init_atm_static(mesh, block_ptr % dimensions, block_ptr % configs)
+               else
+                  call mpas_log_write('*************************************************************', messageType=MPAS_LOG_ERR)
+                  call mpas_log_write('Input grid does not describe a unit sphere, static processing', messageType=MPAS_LOG_ERR)
+                  call mpas_log_write('has likely already been applied. Repeating this step can     ', messageType=MPAS_LOG_ERR)
+                  call mpas_log_write('cause issues running the model and unrealistic results.      ', messageType=MPAS_LOG_ERR)
+                  call mpas_log_write('*************************************************************', messageType=MPAS_LOG_CRIT)
+               end if
             end if
 
             if (config_native_gwd_static) then
@@ -7140,4 +7148,60 @@ function read_text_array(dminfo, filename, xarray) result(ierr)
    end function read_text_array
 
 
+   !-----------------------------------------------------------------------
+   !  routine on_unit_sphere
+   !
+   !> \brief  If mesh describes a unit sphere, return true
+   !> \author G. Dylan Dickerson
+   !> \date   03 Jan 2025
+   !> \details
+   !>
+   !>  This routine actually checks that the total mesh surface
+   !>  area is less than twice that of a unit sphere to account for
+   !>  potential numerical errors.
+   !>
+   !---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   function on_unit_sphere(dminfo, mesh) result(unit_sphere)
+
+      use mpas_pool_routines, only : mpas_pool_get_array, mpas_pool_get_dimension 
+      use mpas_dmpar, only : mpas_dmpar_sum_real
+      use mpas_constants, only : pii
+
+      implicit none
+
+      ! Input vars
+      type (dm_info), intent(in) :: dminfo
+      type (mpas_pool_type), intent(inout) :: mesh
+
+      ! Return value
+      logical unit_sphere
+
+      ! Local vars
+      real (kind=RKIND) :: surfArea, g_surfArea
+      real (kind=RKIND), parameter :: tol = 2.0_RKIND
+      integer :: iCell
+
+      real (kind=RKIND), dimension(:), pointer :: areaCell
+      integer, pointer :: nCellsSolve
+
+      unit_sphere = .false.
+
+      surfArea = 0.0_RKIND
+      g_surfArea = 0.0_RKIND
+
+      call mpas_pool_get_array(mesh, 'areaCell', areaCell)
+      call mpas_pool_get_dimension(mesh, 'nCellsSolve', nCellsSolve)
+
+      ! sum over all owned cells, don't double-count halo cells
+      do iCell = 1, nCellsSolve
+         surfArea = surfArea + areaCell(iCell)
+      end do
+      call mpas_dmpar_sum_real(dminfo, surfArea, g_surfArea)
+
+      if ( (g_surfArea / 4*pii) < tol  ) then
+         unit_sphere = .true.
+      end if
+
+   end function on_unit_sphere
+
 end module init_atm_cases