Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: thedoc on 20/05/2015 11:57:24

Title: Why does some rain smell, but not others?
Post by: thedoc on 20/05/2015 11:57:24: As it has been so sunny recently, we willÂ inevitably have rain to ruin this lovely sunshine. What I have been wondering is why does some rain have a certain smell and some rain doesn't, and what is it that is giving the rain its smell?
Asked by Tom Costema

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Title: Why does some rain smell?
Post by: RD on 08/07/2010 01:35:00: The smell is from bacteria in the soil ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosmin

So if there is no soil nearby there is no smell.
Title: Why does some rain smell?
Post by: chris on 14/07/2010 08:52:00: I answered this question regarding the smell of soil after it rains in this thread last year:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=5359.msg258229#msg258229

Chris
Title: Why does some rain smell?
Post by: tangoblue on 20/07/2010 03:49:48: WHY WOULD ANYONE SMELL SOIL! lol i just got a mental image of someone on their knees smelling soil... random.
Title: Why does some rain smell?
Post by: Mr. F on 18/08/2010 15:22:12: Quote from: RD on 08/07/2010 01:35:00
The smell is from bacteria in the soil ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosmin

So if there is no soil nearby there is no smell.

But Bacteria can live in clouds and act as seeding agents so because there is no soil nearby does not necessary mean there isn't going to be a smell.
Title: Why does some rain smell?
Post by: Variola on 18/08/2010 15:26:28: You would be hard pushed to find anywhere on land there is no soil whatsoever!
Geosmin travels for miles and we are particularly good at detecting it.

And my lab stinks of it!!
Title: Why does some rain smell?
Post by: tommya300 on 19/08/2010 04:43:04: Link to this post 320054 (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=5359.msg320054#msg320054)