diff --git a/mpas_analysis/ocean/climatology_map_ssh.py b/mpas_analysis/ocean/climatology_map_ssh.py
index 928236d14..27aee3ab2 100644
--- a/mpas_analysis/ocean/climatology_map_ssh.py
+++ b/mpas_analysis/ocean/climatology_map_ssh.py
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ def build_observational_dataset(self, fileName):  # {{{
         dsObs = dsObs.rename({'time': 'Time'})
         dsObs.coords['month'] = dsObs['Time.month']
         dsObs.coords['year'] = dsObs['Time.year']
+        dsObs = dsObs.drop(['Time', 'time_bnds'])
 
         # scale the field to cm from m
         dsObs['zos'] = constants.cm_per_m * dsObs['zos']