diff --git a/etc/scripts/kpp_to_micm.py b/etc/scripts/kpp_to_micm.py
index 2e739bf4c..004ac88ea 100644
--- a/etc/scripts/kpp_to_micm.py
+++ b/etc/scripts/kpp_to_micm.py
@@ -171,16 +171,21 @@ def parse_kpp_arrhenius(kpp_str):
     logging.debug(coeffs)
     arr_dict = dict()
     arr_dict['type'] = 'ARRHENIUS' 
+    # note the interchange of B and C, and change of sign
+    # in the KPP and MICM conventions
     if ('_abc(' in kpp_str):
         arr_dict['A'] = coeffs[0]
-        arr_dict['B'] = coeffs[1]
-        arr_dict['C'] = coeffs[2]
+        arr_dict['B'] = coeffs[2]
+        arr_dict['C'] = - coeffs[1]
+        arr_dict['D'] = 300.0
     elif ('_ab(' in kpp_str):
         arr_dict['A'] = coeffs[0]
-        arr_dict['B'] = coeffs[1]
+        arr_dict['C'] = - coeffs[1]
+        arr_dict['D'] = 300.0
     elif ('_ac(' in kpp_str):
         arr_dict['A'] = coeffs[0]
-        arr_dict['C'] = coeffs[1]
+        arr_dict['B'] = coeffs[1]
+        arr_dict['D'] = 300.0
     else:
         logging.error('unrecognized KPP Arrhenius syntax')
     logging.debug(arr_dict)
diff --git a/etc/scripts/test_kpp_to_micm.py b/etc/scripts/test_kpp_to_micm.py
index 874165593..2eac98e50 100644
--- a/etc/scripts/test_kpp_to_micm.py
+++ b/etc/scripts/test_kpp_to_micm.py
@@ -25,16 +25,16 @@ def test_parse_kpp_arrhenius():
     arr_dict = kpp_to_micm.parse_kpp_arrhenius(
         'ARR_ab(%.2e, %.2f)' % (kpp_A, kpp_B))
     assert arr_dict['A'] == kpp_A
-    assert arr_dict['B'] == kpp_B
+    assert arr_dict['C'] == - kpp_B
 
     arr_dict = kpp_to_micm.parse_kpp_arrhenius(
         'ARR_ac(%.2e, %.2f)' % (kpp_A, kpp_C))
     assert arr_dict['A'] == kpp_A
-    assert arr_dict['C'] == kpp_C
+    assert arr_dict['B'] == kpp_C
 
     arr_dict = kpp_to_micm.parse_kpp_arrhenius(
         'ARR_abc(%.2e, %.2f, %.2f)' % (kpp_A, kpp_B, kpp_C))
     assert arr_dict['A'] == kpp_A
-    assert arr_dict['B'] == kpp_B
-    assert arr_dict['C'] == kpp_C
+    assert arr_dict['C'] == - kpp_B
+    assert arr_dict['B'] == kpp_C