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Ever since the monarch's winter sanctuaries in Mexico were discovered in 1975, scientists have been trying to understand the monarch's basic biological needs. They are still learning about the unique conditions, or microclimate, of the oyamel forest and why it's critical for monarch survival. What is a Microclimate? A microclimate is the climate of a local area where climate conditions differ from the surrounding, general area. A microclimate may occur in an area as small as a garden or as large as a mountain slope. Differences in temperature, humidity, wind, and exposure to the sun are factors that can cause microclimate conditions. Photo: Susan Myers