microclimate

American  

[mahy-kruh-klahy-mit] / ˈmaɪ krəˌklaɪ mɪt /

noun

1. the climate of a small area, as of confined spaces such as caves or houses cryptoclimate, of plant communities, wooded areas, etc. phytoclimate, or of urban communities, which may be different from that in the general region.

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microclimate British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌklaɪmɪt, ˌmaɪkrəʊklaɪˈmætɪk /

noun

1. the atmospheric conditions affecting an individual or a small group of organisms, esp when they differ from the climate of the rest of the community

2. the entire environment of an individual or small group of organisms

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microclimate Scientific  

/ mī′krō-klī′mĭt /

1. The climate of a small, specific place within a larger area. An area as small as a yard or park can have several different microclimates depending on how much sunlight, shade, or exposure to the wind there is at a particular spot.

2. Compare macroclimate

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microclimate Cultural  

1. The long-term weather conditions in a small area on the Earth. Usually, this term refers to such things as the differences in weather between the tops of hills and neighboring valleys, or between different parts of the same piece of land.

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Other Word Forms

• microclimatic adjective
• microclimatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of microclimate

First recorded in 1920–25; micro- + climate

Example Sentences

“It kills the dormant weed seeds and vegetation that you want to get rid of, and it creates a microclimate for earthworms to decompose the thatch and create a nice seed bed.”

From Seattle Times

“Summer blazes in Sardinia with so much dry vegetation, the strong winds and the high temperatures take place every year. These fires create their own microclimate and propagate very fast.”

From New York Times

Its sunny and dry microclimate in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains means this fragrant crop grows incredibly well here.

From Seattle Times

"What pearl-bordered fritillary require is their caterpillars only feed on dog violet and - more than that - the dog violet has to be in a really warm microclimate," he said.

From BBC

Gardeners who are intimately familiar with their regional climate, their garden’s soil makeup, and even local topographical formations that influence microclimate conditions will save themselves time, money and heartbreak.

From Seattle Times