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

Did you know?

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

Environmentalists told the outlet that there might be an underground water supply or specific microclimate that is bolstering the rare tree. —Kathryn Preston, Fortune, 12 July 2024

The county has distinct microclimates, so temperatures will rise in coastal and urban neighborhoods, but even more inland. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 9 July 2024

Chefs and mixologists will whirl around you creating delicious concoctions, with ingredients sourced from the intriguing microclimates dotted across the island. —William Leigh, theweek, 14 May 2024

In May, more than 100 species of wild orchids bloom in a microclimate. —Nina Burleigh, New York Times, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above