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

Fei Ge - or Brother Fei as he is known - was taught that these sinkholes have their own microclimate.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

Still, one aspect of the climate variability and microclimate hypotheses can, for now, be put to rest for tropical birds.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

It takes special conditions, including the right microclimate.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2023

Most of all, he fears that a change in the microclimate from the loss of the reservoir will endanger the future of some of his grapes.

From New York Times • Jun. 11, 2023

I think I actually began hyperventilating, creating my own microclimate in the backseat, where it was as humid as a rain forest in the Amazon.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith