Although it might seem like a statement someone would make to impress others, scientists believe that some people are able to smell when it's going to rain.
When someone tells you that they can smell when rain is coming, you might assume they're joking with you and suppose they are joking.
Supposedly, scientists believe some people are able to smell when it's going to rain. They can provide an interesting explanation for this phenomenon.
Some people are able to smell when it's going to rain because they can detect a distinct smell in the air after a rainstorm. This earthy fragrance, known as petrichor, emerges when rainwater interacts with the soil. Certain individuals are more sensitive to this smell than others.
The term "petrichor" originates from the Greek words 'petra', signifying stone, and 'ichor', which alludes to the divine golden fluid flowing in the veins of gods within their mythology. Additionally, it translates to the 'scent of rain'. The phrase was coined in 1964 by Australian scientists Joy Bear and Richard Thomas.
According to Jeff Weber, a meteorologist with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Unidata Program Center, saying: "Petrichor is caused by oils derived from plants, primarily leaves, that accumulate over dry periods. These oils settle into soils or onto pavement over time and are released into the atmosphere by being disturbed by rainfall."
The reason why people are able to smell when it's going to rain is believed to be that 'when higher humidity is experienced as a precursor to rain, the pores of rocks and soil become trapped with moisture, forcing some of the oils to be released into the air,' according to the Met Office.
While there might be some preliminary scent before rainfall, the most potent aroma is emitted during this phase. This happens when raindrops come into contact with the soil, resulting in the 'capture of minuscule air bubbles on the surface that subsequently rise' and 'burst out of the droplet, releasing aerosols of scent into the air, which are then carried by the wind.'
The smell is generated by a type of soil bacteria that releases a chemical known as geosmin, which imparts an 'earthy,' musky, or fresh aroma.
Furthermore, an individual might detect the scent of ozone, also known as O3, a naturally occurring gas in the atmosphere. Its name comes from the Greek word 'ozein,' meaning 'to smell.'
Different from Petrichor, this scent has a sweeter smell. However, it can occasionally serve as an indicator of an approaching storm, as gusts of wind push pockets of gas downward to ground level.
