diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e1486cc41113f4ca88e01fc02ccbd79a3b855595..9a8730a1b628317b2599a6da0204898e9d055d5e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,11 +59,14 @@ MAPSERVER_LOG_FILE=/foo/mapserver/log/ADASMELISAE.log
 MAPSERVER_IMAGE_PATH=/foo/mapserver/image/
 # The value of the EXTENT parameter in Mapserver's mapfile. Units are DD (Decimal degrees)
 MAPSERVER_EXTENT="-23.5 29.5 62.5 70.5"
-# Path to optional CSV file with polygons for masking result.
+# OPTIONAL Path to CSV file with polygons for masking result. Default: no masking performed
 MASK_FILE=europe_coastline.csv
+# OPTIONAL If model should run for a previous year. Default: current year
+YEAR=2024
 ```
 
-...this is the contents of the `env-sample` file
+...this is the contents of the `env-sample` file. 
+
 
 ```bash
 $ ./run_ADASMELIAE.sh
diff --git a/env-sample b/env-sample
index 8e246512cb4992424652ec12f71c4186b123f550..75dfd90a1c874f76cb7c16b18a4a0c84362c9a4f 100644
--- a/env-sample
+++ b/env-sample
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 
 # Default value is False
 DEBUG=False
-# If not given, the model is run for current year
-YEAR=2024
 # This is used to auto generate some variables and file names
 MODEL_ID="ADASMELIAE"
 # The start date MM-DD of the model
@@ -32,5 +30,7 @@ MAPSERVER_LOG_FILE=/foo/mapserver/log/ADASMELISAE.log
 MAPSERVER_IMAGE_PATH=/foo/mapserver/image/
 # The value of the EXTENT parameter in Mapserver's mapfile. Units are DD (Decimal degrees)
 MAPSERVER_EXTENT="-23.5 29.5 62.5 70.5"
-# Path to optional CSV file with polygons for masking result.
+# OPTIONAL Path to CSV file with polygons for masking result. Default: no masking performed
 MASK_FILE=europe_coastline.csv
+# OPTIONAL If model should run for a previous year. Default: current year
+YEAR=2024