[thedoc]

As it has been so sunny recently, we will 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


                                        Visit the webpage for the podcast in which this question is answered.

[chapter podcast=1001045 track=15.05.19/Naked_Scientists_Show_15.05.19_1003660.mp3]  ...or Listen to the Answer[/chapter] or [download as MP3]

[RD]

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.

[chris]

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

[tangoblue]

WHY WOULD ANYONE SMELL SOIL! lol i just got a mental image of someone on their knees smelling soil... random.

[Mr. F]

The smell is from bacteria in the soil ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosmin [nofollow]

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.

[Variola]

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!!

[tommya300]

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