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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web At first, the coffee was planted along the coast, but locals soon learned that the microclimate of the Chiriquí Highlands at the base of Volcán Barú was perfect for the coffee to thrive. 
Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022 Here, nature is abundant, and thanks to a microclimate, exotic plants and vegetables are plentiful. Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Its grand Belle Époque buildings and beautiful flora from its microclimate are perfect for a leisurely stroll around. Michele Robson, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Basalt canyons, slopes and a variety of soil types create niches that foster myriad microclimate zones including meadows, pine forests, floodplains and riparian corridors rife with willow and reeds. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 27 July 2022 Plastic sheets protect the lemons from offshore winds and create an ideal microclimate. Carlotta Dotto, CNN, 21 July 2022 The vineyard sits on 210 acres and is able to grow different expressions of pinot noir, syrah, and chardonnay thanks to the area’s unique microclimate. Christina Liao, Forbes, 16 May 2022 The microclimate is characterized by significant diurnal range, warm summers and cold winters. John Mariani, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022 Slip down natural water slides, view the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania from Baughman Rocks, and explore rare plants and fossils on the Ferncliff Peninsula, which has a distinctly mild and humid microclimate. Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 6 June 2019 See More
Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022 Here, nature is abundant, and thanks to a microclimate, exotic plants and vegetables are plentiful. Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 Its grand Belle Époque buildings and beautiful flora from its microclimate are perfect for a leisurely stroll around. Michele Robson, Forbes, 24 July 2022 Basalt canyons, slopes and a variety of soil types create niches that foster myriad microclimate zones including meadows, pine forests, floodplains and riparian corridors rife with willow and reeds. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 27 July 2022 Plastic sheets protect the lemons from offshore winds and create an ideal microclimate. Carlotta Dotto, CNN, 21 July 2022 The vineyard sits on 210 acres and is able to grow different expressions of pinot noir, syrah, and chardonnay thanks to the area’s unique microclimate. Christina Liao, Forbes, 16 May 2022 The microclimate is characterized by significant diurnal range, warm summers and cold winters. John Mariani, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022 Slip down natural water slides, view the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania from Baughman Rocks, and explore rare plants and fossils on the Ferncliff Peninsula, which has a distinctly mild and humid microclimate. Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 6 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use
1925, in the meaning defined above