microclimate

noun

mi·​cro·​cli·​mate ˈmī-krō-ˌklī-mət 

: the essentially uniform local climate of a usually small site or habitat

microclimatic

ˌmī-krō-klī-ˈma-tik 

adjective

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The microclimate of an industrial park may be quite different from that of a nearby wooded park, since the plants absorb light and heat while asphalt parking lots and rooftops radiate them back into the air. A microclimate can offer a small growing area for crops that wouldn't do well in the wider region, so skilled gardeners take advantage of microclimates by carefully choosing and positioning their plants. San Francisco's hills, oceanfront, and bay shore, along with its alternating areas of concrete and greenery, make it a city of microclimates.

Examples of microclimate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The beauty and abundance of shrublands in the West are packed with inspiration throughout its diverse topography, geology, hydrology and microclimates. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024

Identify plants that struggled in your microclimate and should be avoided in future years? —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024

This is because of microclimates, which are caused by factors that affect air temperatures near the ground, such as elevation. —Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024

To improve neighborhood microclimates, new statutes mandate rooftop gardens and green facades on new construction. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above