diff --git a/scm/src/GFDL_parse_tracers.F90 b/scm/src/GFDL_parse_tracers.F90
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8112710
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scm/src/GFDL_parse_tracers.F90
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+module parse_tracers
+
+  integer, parameter :: NO_TRACER = -99
+
+  public get_tracer_index, NO_TRACER
+
+CONTAINS
+
+  function get_tracer_index (tracer_names, name, me, master, debug)
+
+    character(len=32), intent(in) :: tracer_names(:)
+    character(len=*),  intent(in) :: name
+    integer,           intent(in) :: me
+    integer,           intent(in) :: master
+    logical,           intent(in) :: debug
+    !--- local variables
+    integer :: get_tracer_index
+    integer :: i
+
+    get_tracer_index = NO_TRACER
+
+    do i=1, size(tracer_names)
+       if (trim(name) == trim(tracer_names(i))) then
+           get_tracer_index = i
+           exit
+       endif
+    enddo
+
+    if (debug .and. (me == master)) then
+      if (get_tracer_index == NO_TRACER) then
+        print *,' PE ',me,' tracer with name '//trim(name)//' not found'
+      else
+        print *,' PE ',me,' tracer FOUND:',trim(name)
+      endif
+    endif
+
+    return
+
+  end function get_tracer_index
+
+end module parse_tracers