Cryptoclimate

/ˌkrɪptəʊˈklaɪmeɪt/ noun

Definition

A localized climate hidden or sheltered within a small space, such as inside a cave, beneath soil, or within tree bark, that differs from the surrounding regional climate.

Etymology

From Greek 'kryptos' (hidden) + 'klima' (climate/region), a 20th-century ecological term to describe microhabitats with their own distinct environmental conditions.

Kelly Says

A dead log in a forest floor creates its own secret climate for thousands of creatures—it might be twice as humid and 20 degrees cooler than the air just above it, creating a completely different world for insects and fungi.

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