Microclimates are local weather patterns that can differ from the overall climate of an area due to factors like altitude, exposure, shelter, vegetation, urban development, and proximity to water or coasts. In urban areas, microclimates are affected by concrete, buildings, drainage, and industry which can raise temperatures. Coastal microclimates see a breeze from the cooler sea move inland in summer to replace rising hot air over land. Forest microclimates provide shelter from the sun and wind, making the forest interior cooler than the edges on sunny days.

1. Microclimate A microclimate is the weather that is found in a relatively small, very local area (e.g. woodland, town on mountain valley) What conditions affect weather conditions locally? How would the following affect microclimates? Altitude Exposure and shelter Water Buildings Concrete Aspect Coasts Vegetation

2. Urban Microclimates

3. Urban microclimates What affects the microclimate in an urban area? Concrete Tarmac Tall buildings Surface drainage Glass Business and industry

4. The microclimate in a valley… North facing slopes: North South North-facing slope, this is much colder as it doesn’t have the sun heating it

5. Coastal microclimates In the summer there are local differences between the temperatures of the sea and the land. As the high temperatures on the land make the air above them rise, the area of low pressure causes a breeze from the colder sea to move to fill the gap left

6. Forest Microclimates What would the forest of a microclimate be like? Think about: Temperature Wind Sun intensity Shelter

7. A forest microclimate On a sunny day, it is warmer towards the edges of a forest A dense forest would be colder in the middle Wind speed would obviously be much lower in the forest

8. Case study question: Explain, with examples, how human activities can create a microclimate in an urban area. [9]