diff --git a/ush/compare_f90nml.py b/ush/compare_f90nml.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..f3c5573a927
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ush/compare_f90nml.py
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import json
+import f90nml
+from typing import Dict
+from argparse import ArgumentParser, ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter
+
+
+def get_dict_from_nml(filename: str) -> Dict:
+    """
+    Read a F90 namelist and convert to a dictionary.
+    This method uses json to convert OrderedDictionary into regular dictionary
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    filename: str
+              Name of the F90 namelist
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dictionary: Dict
+                F90 namelist returned as a dictionary
+    """
+    return json.loads(json.dumps(f90nml.read(filename).todict()))
+
+
+def compare_dicts(dict1: Dict, dict2: Dict, path: str = "") -> None:
+    """
+    Compare 2 dictionaries.
+    This is done by looping over keys in dictionary 1 and searching for them
+    in dictionary 2.
+    If a matching key is found, the values are compared.
+    If a matching key is not found, it is set to as UNDEFINED.
+    Note: A reverse match is not performed in this method.  For reverse matching, use the -r option in the main driver.
+    Note: This is a recursive method to handle nested dictionaries.
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    dict1: Dict
+           First dictionary
+    dict2: Dict
+           Second dictionary
+    path:  str (optional)
+           default: ""
+           key (if nested dictionary)
+    Returns
+    -------
+    None
+    """
+
+    result = dict()
+    for kk in dict1.keys():  # Loop over all keys of first dictionary
+        if kk in dict2.keys():  # kk is present in dict2
+            if isinstance(dict1[kk], dict):  # nested dictionary, go deeper
+                compare_dicts(dict1[kk], dict2[kk], path=kk)
+            else:
+                if dict1[kk] != dict2[kk]:
+                    if path not in result:
+                        result[path] = dict()
+                    result[path][kk] = [dict1[kk], dict2[kk]]
+        else:  # kk is *not* present in dict2
+            tt = path if path else kk
+            if tt not in result:
+                result[tt] = dict()
+            result[tt][kk] = [dict1[kk], 'UNDEFINED']
+
+    def _print_diffs(diff_dict: Dict) -> None:
+        """
+        Print the differences between the two dictionaries to stdout
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        diff_dict: Dict
+                   Dictionary containing differences
+        Returns
+        -------
+        None
+        """
+        for path in diff_dict.keys():
+            print(f"{path}:")
+            max_len = len(max(diff_dict[path], key=len))
+            for kk in diff_dict[path].keys():
+                items = diff_dict[path][kk]
+                print(
+                    f"{kk:>{max_len+2}} : {' | '.join(map(str, diff_dict[path][kk]))}")
+
+    _print_diffs(result)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+
+    parser = ArgumentParser(
+        description=("Compare two Fortran namelists and display differences (left_namelist - right_namelist)"),
+        formatter_class=ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter)
+    parser.add_argument('left_namelist', type=str, help="Left namelist to compare")
+    parser.add_argument('right_namelist', type=str, help="Right namelist to compare")
+    parser.add_argument('-r', '--reverse', help='reverse diff (right_namelist - left_namelist)',
+                        action='store_true', required=False)
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    nml1, nml2 = args.left_namelist, args.right_namelist
+    if args.reverse:
+        nml2, nml1 = nml1, nml2
+
+    dict1 = get_dict_from_nml(nml1)
+    dict2 = get_dict_from_nml(nml2)
+
+    msg = f"comparing: {nml1} | {nml2}"
+    print(msg)
+    print("-" * len(msg))
+    compare_dicts(dict1, dict2)