diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..674c8815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,307 @@
+# Unreleased
+
+
+<a name="1.3.0"></a>
+# [1.3.0](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.3.0) - 22 Jun 2023
+
+This version of STEMMUS_SCOPE is only compatible with [PyStemmusScope 0.3.0.](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE_Processing/releases/tag/v0.3.0)
+
+**Added:**
+
+- A license file, indicating that the code is under the GNU GPL-3.0 license ([#153](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/153))
+- A notebook to (more) easily compare the results of different STEMMUS_SCOPE git branches ([#177](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/177))
+- Changes in the land cover over time are now supported by the model ([#182](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/182)).
+
+**Changed:**
+
+- All code has been formatted with [MISS_HIT](https://misshit.org/), to improve readability ([#147](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/147)). All new or modified code should follow this style as well.
+- The `Constants.m` file has been refactored ([#158](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/158)):
+  - Removed unused script `src/CnvrgnCHK.m`
+  - Removed unused global variables
+  - Replaced `Constants.m` with `io.loadModelSettings` and `init.defineInitialValues`
+ - The files `calcLambda.m` and `calcPhi_s.m` have been moved to the `+equations` module ([#171](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/171))
+ - The scripts `SOIL1.m` and `SOIL2.m` have been refactored. The code is now in the files `UpdateSoilWaterContent.m` and `updateWettingHistory.m`([#180](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/180))
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+- An error in the sign of NEE has been corrected ([#151](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/pull/151)).
+
+[Changes][1.3.0]
+
+<a name="1.2.0"></a>
+# [1.2.0](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.2.0) - 21 Feb 2023
+
+This version of STEMMUS_SCOPE is only compatible with [PyStemmusScope 0.2.0.](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE_Processing/releases/tag/v0.2.0)
+
+### Changed:
+- The StartInit file has been refactored to improve the code quality, and to remove global variables ([#113](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/113)). This also lead to various bugfixes ([#144](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/144))
+- Soil initial conditions are now read from a .mat file generated by [PyStemmusScope](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE_Processing/), see the [release there](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE_Processing/releases/tag/v0.2.0).
+- The STEMMUS_SCOPE configuration file has been modified. PLUMBER2 sites are now defined as, e.g. `Location=AU-DaS`, and the time range for the model is defined as `StartTime=2001-01-01T00:00`, `EndTime=2001-01-02T00:00`. See [PyStemmusScope](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE_Processing/) for more information.
+
+[Changes][1.2.0]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.11"></a>
+# [1.1.11](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.11) - 15 Nov 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model that is Octave compatible. The input data and config file can be prepared using PyStemmusScope python package, see [readme](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/tree/main#stemmus_scope). Changes are introduced in [#128](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/128)
+
+[Changes][1.1.11]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.10"></a>
+# [1.1.10](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.10) - 15 Nov 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model.
+
+**Added:**
+- `pull_request_template.md` in [#116](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/116)
+
+**Removed:**
+- `src/filesread.m` in [#107](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/107)
+- `src/set_parameter_filenames.m` in [#109](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/109)
+
+**Fixed:**
+- the function `bin_to_csv` for storing the values of `sim_temp` and `sim_theta` in [#103](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/103).
+
+**Changed:**
+- the function `filesread` is replaced with `prepareForcingData` in [#107](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/107)
+- a more user-friendly readme in [#117](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/117)
+
+[Changes][1.1.10]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.9"></a>
+# [1.1.9](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.9) - 28 Jul 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model.
+
+**Fixed**:
+
+- function `es_fun` [#81](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/81)
+
+**Changed**:
+
+- era5cli notebook checks sites against land sea mask [#79](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/79)
+- Number of canopy layers in [#85](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/85)
+- Convergence criteria in ebal `abs(PSI-PSI1)` and stemmus scope `max(CHK)` in [#85](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/85)
+- Module parallel replaced with for loop in snellius bash script in [#91](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/91)
+
+**Removed**:
+
+- Variables for boundary condition settings from Constants.m in [#85](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/85)
+
+[Changes][1.1.9]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.8"></a>
+# [1.1.8](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.8) - 08 Jul 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model.
+
+**Fixed:**
+- maximum fractional saturated area in [#78](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/78)
+
+**Changed:**
+- the parameter of evergreen broadleaf forests in [#78](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/78)
+
+[Changes][1.1.8]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.7"></a>
+# [1.1.7](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.7) - 30 Jun 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model.
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+- Fix vegetation type and T min in [#72](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/72)
+
+[Changes][1.1.7]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.6"></a>
+# [1.1.6](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.6) - 29 Jun 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model.
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+- Fix bugs in DoY and vegetation type processing [#67](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/67)
+- Re-generate the exe file in [#70](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/70)
+
+[Changes][1.1.6]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.5"></a>
+# [1.1.5](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.5) - 10 Jun 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model updating the scripts `StartInit.m` and `Constants.m` to use soil era5 land data in [#58](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/58)
+
+**Changed:**
+
+- `src/StartInit.m`, `src/Constants.m` and `src/filesread.m` in [#58](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/58)
+
+**Fixed:**
+- fix warning message in [#57](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/57)
+
+**Added:**
+- add `InitialConditionPath` to config files in [#58](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/58) and [#59](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/59)
+- add the notebook `download_era5_data.ipynb` to `utils/notebooks` in [#54](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/54)
+
+
+[Changes][1.1.5]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.4b"></a>
+# [1.1.4 (1.1.4b)](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.4b) - 11 May 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model updating the scripts `StartInit.m` and `Constants.m` to modify initial soil moisture in [#49](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/49)
+
+**Changed:**
+
+- `src/StartInit.m` and `src/Constants.m` in [#49](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/49)
+-  use warning off in `src/STEMMUS_SCOPE_exe.m` in [#45](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/45)
+
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+- Use warning instead of fprintf [#45](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/45)
+- Fix `var_t_length` so it matches `DurationSize` in `utils/csv_to_nc` in [#47](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/47)
+
+**Removed:**
+
+- unused scripts in [#48](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/48)
+
+[Changes][1.1.4b]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.3"></a>
+# [1.1.3](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.3) - 19 Apr 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model updating the equation `calc_rssrbs.m` and refactoring the script `soilpropertyread.m` to use a high-resolution global soil property datasets in [#39](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/39)
+
+**Changed:**
+
+- `src/+equations/calc_rssrbs.m`, `src/Constants.m`, `src/Initial_root_biomass.m`, `src/soilpropertyread.m` in [#39](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/39)
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+- fix the input/output paths in crib config file, see [#34](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/34)
+- replacing the `keyboard` command with a `fprintf` statement, see [#40](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/40)
+
+
+
+[Changes][1.1.3]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.2"></a>
+# [1.1.2](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.2) - 12 Apr 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model updating `ebal` script in [#24](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/24) and [#37](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/37).
+
+**Added**
+
+- output of NEE in [#37](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/37)
+- documentation in [#32](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/32) and [#33](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/33)
+- variable `DurationSize` to config file in [#36](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/36)
+- documentation of how to convert the model output to netcdf files in `utils/csv_to_nc/README.md` [#27](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/27)
+- python utility for converting the model output to netcdf files in [#27](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/27)
+
+**Removed**
+- utils/csv_to_nc/write.py and utils/csv_to_nc/read.py in [#27](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/27)
+
+**Changed**
+
+- `src/ebal.m` in [#24](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/24) and [#37](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/37)
+- `src/+io/bin_to_csv.m`, `src/+io/output_data_binary.m`, and
+- `src/filesread.m` in [#24](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/24) and [#36](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/36)
+- update `utils/csv_to_nc/Variables_will_be_in_NetCDF_file.csv` in [#27](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/27)
+- replace `mean` with `nanmean` in [#37](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/37)
+- readme in [#36](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/36)
+
+**Fixed**
+
+- the bash script of the running model on Snellius in [#25](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/25)
+
+[Changes][1.1.2]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.1"></a>
+# [1.1.1](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.1) - 02 Feb 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model including the simplification of freeze/thaw in subroutines introduced in [#14](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/14).
+
+**Added**
+
+- Python scripts in Utils to convert the output in csv format to netcdf format, see [#11](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/11)
+- The script `soilpropertyread.m` requires the data of `surfdata.nc`, see [#14](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/14).
+
+**Removed**
+
+- Files `src/+io/create_output_files.m` , `src/+io/output_data.m`, `src/SCOPE.exe`, in [#14](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/14).
+- Files `src/PHENOLOGY_STATE.m`, `src/Root_Fraction_General.m`, `src/VEGETATION_DYNAMIC.m`, `src/calc_root_growth.m` in [#14](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/14).
+
+**Changed**
+
+- `src/+equations/Soil_Inertia1.m`, `src/soilpropertyread.m`, `src/filesread.m`, `src/ebal.m`, `src/StartInit.m` , `src/STEMMUS_SCOPE.m`, `src/Initial_root_biomass.m`, `src/Evap_Cal.m, src/Enrgy_sub.m`, `src/Constants.m`, `src/+plot/plots.m`, `src/+io/select_input.m`, `src/+io/output_data_binary.m`, `src/+io/bin_to_csv.m` , in [#14](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/14).
+
+**Fixed**
+
+- Output path and forcing path in [#10](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/10)
+
+[Changes][1.1.1]
+
+
+<a name="1.1.0"></a>
+# [1.1.0](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.1.0) - 25 Jan 2022
+
+STEMMUS_SCOPE model including changes from pull requests [#4](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/4) and [#9](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/issues/9). The changes are summarized below:
+
+**Added**
+- Add subfunction and module for "Root Properties"
+- Add modules `HT_frez`, `Initial_root_biomass`
+- Add module `filesread` to get input/output paths and prepare input data
+- Add module `soilpropertyread` to prepare soil property input data
+- Add module `soltir_tp7` to read MODTRAN tp7 file and applies a new MIT algorithm
+- Add functions to convert the outputs format from binary to csv
+- Add the function `output_verfication` from SCOPE code
+- Add a function to convert timestamp to datetime array  from SCOPE code
+
+
+**Changed**
+- Modify equation of `rssrbs`
+- Modify the equation of "soil respiration"
+- Modify modules `AirPARM`, `Air_sub`, `CnvrgCHK`, `CondL_Tdisp`, `CondL_h`, `CondT_coeff`, `CondV_DE`, `CondV_DVg`, `Cond_k_g`, `Constants`, `Density_V`, `Dtrmn_Z`, `EfeCapCond`, `EnrgyPARM`, `Enrgy_BC`, `Enrgy_Solve`, `Enrgy_sub`, `Evap_Cal`, `Forcing_PARM`, `Max_Rootdepth`, `ObservationPoints`, `SOIL2`, `StartInit`, `TimestepCHK`, `biochemical`, `calc_rsoil`, `calc_sfactor`, `ebal`, `hPARM`, `h_BC`, `h_sub`, `hh_Solve`
+- Modify `STEMMUS_SCOPE`
+- Refactor function `PlotResults1`
+- Remove some of the print statements related to outputs in module IO
+- Refactor function plot in module plot to read csv format instead dat format
+- Update readme
+
+
+[Changes][1.1.0]
+
+
+<a name="1.0.0"></a>
+# [1.0.0](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/releases/tag/1.0.0) - 17 Dec 2021
+
+Snapshots of codes used for the paper [Integrated modeling of canopy photosynthesis, fluorescence, and the transfer of energy, mass, and momentum in the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (STEMMUS–SCOPE v1.0.0)](https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-1379-2021).
+
+[Changes][1.0.0]
+
+[1.3.0]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.2.0...1.3.0
+[1.2.0]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.11...1.2.0
+[1.1.11]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.10...1.1.11
+[1.1.10]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.9...1.1.10
+[1.1.9]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.8...1.1.9
+[1.1.8]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.7...1.1.8
+[1.1.7]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.6...1.1.7
+[1.1.6]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.5...1.1.6
+[1.1.5]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.4b...1.1.5
+[1.1.4b]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.3...1.1.4b
+[1.1.3]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.2...1.1.3
+[1.1.2]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.1...1.1.2
+[1.1.1]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.1.0...1.1.1
+[1.1.0]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/compare/1.0.0...1.1.0
+[1.0.0]: https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/tree/1.0.0
diff --git a/pull_request_template.md b/pull_request_template.md
index 5666b1f9..be1b31af 100644
--- a/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 ### Description
 Please add a description of the changes proposed in the pull request.
 
-### Update executable file
-Please re-generate exe file if matlab codes are changed. About how to create an exe file, see [exe readme](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/blob/main/run_model_on_snellius/exe/README.md).
-
 ### Checklist
 - [ ] Add a reference to related issues.
 - [ ] @mentions of the person or team responsible for reviewing proposed changes.
@@ -11,4 +8,6 @@ Please re-generate exe file if matlab codes are changed. About how to create an
 - [ ] Code is written according to the [guidelines](http://cnl.sogang.ac.kr/cnlab/lectures/programming/matlab/Richard_Johnson-MatlabStyle2_book.pdf).
 - [ ] The checks by [MISS_HIT style checker and linter](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#follow-matlab-style-guidelines), below the pull request, are successful (green).
 - [ ] Documentation is available.
+- [ ] Add changes to the [changelog file](CHANGELOG.md) under section `Unreleased`.
 - [ ] Model runs successfully.
+- [ ] Ask a meinatainer to re-generate exe file if matlab codes are changed. About how to create an exe file, see [exe readme](https://github.com/EcoExtreML/STEMMUS_SCOPE/blob/main/run_model_on_snellius/exe/README.md).