The Smell of Rain

11007 rain
11007 rain

rainAs we leave winter and early spring behind and look forward to summer, rain is something we’ve had a bit too much of!

However, the ‘smell’ of rain when it’s been a while since the last downpour, can be extremely evocative. It actually has a scientific name; petrichor. The term was first used in a nature journal in the 1960’s to describe how the ground smells after a drought. 

When the weather is very dry, plants start to secrete oils into the ground. The long that passes between showers, the more oil ends up in the ground. These oils in turn mix with bacteria in the soil. The bacteria needs the rain to wash away their spores, so when it does finally rain, the added bonus is the glorious aroma created by the combination of oil, bacteria, dirt and water.

Thunderstorms are also responsible for the rain smell to an extent, this time from ozone. Lightning can split molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the air. When they recombine, they can form nitric oxide, which in turn combined with ozone can release a fragrance. 

So, for the members of your family who say they can smell the rain or storm coming – they may actually be correct!