diff --git a/geomagio/algorithm/SqDistAlgorithm.py b/geomagio/algorithm/SqDistAlgorithm.py
index 86b60a878ab05fc8cc1ce58a2750da659ded27cb..ead49dab2d5929143e1a0da3a07a7b647c0ea83c 100644
--- a/geomagio/algorithm/SqDistAlgorithm.py
+++ b/geomagio/algorithm/SqDistAlgorithm.py
@@ -584,15 +584,15 @@ class SqDistAlgorithm(Algorithm):
         """
         parser.add_argument('--sqdist-alpha',
                 default=1.0 / 1440.0 / 30,
-                help='SqDist alpha parameter',
+                help='Smoothing parameter for secular variation',
                 type=float)
         parser.add_argument('--sqdist-beta',
-                default=1.0 / 1440.0 / 30,
-                help='SqDist beta parameter',
+                default=0,
+                help='Smoothing parameter for slope',
                 type=float)
         parser.add_argument('--sqdist-gamma',
                 default=1.0 / 30,
-                help='SqDist gamma parameter',
+                help='Smoothing parameter for solar quiet',
                 type=float)
         parser.add_argument('--sqdist-m',
                 default=1440,