Most meteorology deals with weather systems that span hundreds of kilometers. Micrometeorology focuses on the much smaller scales of centimeters to a few kilometers, especially the layer of air closest to the ground.

Researchers study turbulence, heat and moisture fluxes, and the influence of surface features such as forests, crops, buildings, and water bodies. Instruments on towers, aircraft, and drones measure rapid fluctuations in wind, temperature, and humidity.

Findings improve understanding of how pollutants disperse, how plants exchange gases with the air, and how urban areas create their own microclimates. Agricultural practices and renewable-energy siting also benefit from micrometeorological data. The field bridges the gap between large-scale weather models and the conditions people and ecosystems actually experience at the surface.

• Studies small-scale atmospheric processes
• Focuses on the near-surface layer
• Uses high-resolution instruments
• Applies to pollution, agriculture, and urban climate