Vegetation and Microclimate (Case Study of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra J&K)

Microclimates are caused by the local differences in the amount of heat or water received or trapped near the surface. A microclimate may differ from its surroundings by receiving more energy, so it is little warmer than its surroundings. On the other hand, if it is shade it may be cooler on average, because it does not get the direct heating of the sun. Its humidity may differ; water may have accumulated there making things damper, or there may be less water so that it is drier. Also, the wind speed may be different, affecting the temperature and humidity because wind tends to remove heat and water vapour. All these influences go into making the microclimate. Microclimates help to explain part of patchiness in vegetation that occurs on the smaller scale, they determine which plant can grow where. Furthermore, microclimates are the building blocks of climate of a particular region.