A microclimate refers to localized atmospheric conditions in the near-surface layer, which includes the air immediately above a surface as well as the shallow soil and water environments below it. A microclimate can range in size from a few meters to at most a few kilometers across. It is characterized by a set of persistent, measurable differences in the climate conditions from those in the adjacent surrounding areas. These differences may be subtle or pronounced when evaluated over a diurnal (day-night) or seasonal cycle.