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

Rock paintings in Indonesian caves could date back around 70,000 years, yet their remarkable state of preservation may be attributed at least in part to a stable microclimate, far from rain, heat, and wind. — Mike McRae 17, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026

The garden’s four miles of trails lead to ocean views and wind through numerous microclimates and habitats. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

The setup creates a mutually beneficial microclimate where the vegetation cools the solar panels to boost their efficiency and the panels provide shade to support plant growth. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026

In Sicily, the harvest has stretched into what growers describe as a hundred-day picking season across the island’s microclimates, as producers time each variety’s picking to stay ahead of the heat. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microclimate

• climate
• sublimate