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Environment and Ecology

The Earth’s Environment

What is a microclimate?

When you notice that the temperature forecast in your local media is consistently warmer or colder than that which occurs in your neighborhood, you have identified a microclimate. Light, temperature, and moisture may all vary from one area to another because of changes in altitude, vegetation, or other factors. One good example may be in your own yard—in some areas, plants may grow better or faster if they are partially hidden from such extreme weather elements such as wind or snow and may experience more heat from the Sun because of their location, such as along a brick wall exposed to sunlight. In this case, that part of your yard would be called a microclimate.



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