That smell?

blackfoot griz · July 09, 2012, 10:21:09 PM

I know there has been one heck of a heatwave hitting the U.S.
This may sound crazy, but, what is the delightful "smell" when a parched
section of ground finally gets some rain?

I have been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time in different states, but what
causes that great smell when a dry chunk of ground finally gets some moisture?

It seems to be the same smell no matter where you are...

What actually causes it?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · July 09, 2012, 10:26:40 PM

Someone spilled GRITS on the ground. :D

Left Coast Chris · July 09, 2012, 10:27:09 PM

If we can find out maybe we could come up with a new cologne.........

.....this reminded me of Kramer on Seinfield when he invented the beach smell perfume...

Clam77 · July 09, 2012, 10:32:19 PM

:D :D It's called fresh air Griz.

Around here, rain knocks the dust out of the air- smells alot better after that. If it's a thunderstorm with alot of lightning you can smell the ozone in the air. Plain ol' clean, wet dirt smells pretty good too. ;) :D

Magicman · July 09, 2012, 10:49:47 PM

Pat and I walked out of Wally and we commented that we could smell rain, but it was not raining. When we got home, a mile away, it had rained. Yup, you can smell rain. ??? ???

sandhills · July 10, 2012, 06:35:02 AM

I miss that smell :-\

Norm · July 10, 2012, 06:39:50 AM

I read once that after a storm passes the air is charged with ozone, not sure what it is but I too love that smell.

Magicman · July 10, 2012, 06:41:46 AM

If I smell it too much for the rest of the week, I'll be standing under a barn and not sawing.

Patty · July 10, 2012, 06:43:36 AM

I am like Sandhills, I really miss the smell of rain. :-\

thecfarm · July 10, 2012, 06:55:40 AM

I bet you do Patty. Every time I hear Norm mention lack of rain, I want to send some to you. We get the same smell here in non-grits land too. :D What I look forward to is the smell of the earth in the spring. Seems to only come for just about one day. After the snow is just about gone and a nice,warm day,the smell comes out of the ground.

florida · July 10, 2012, 04:03:32 PM

That smell is called petrichor. Really. There's a compound in the soil called geosmin which is released when hit by raindrops. Humans are very sensitive to the smell and since we usually only smell it when it rains it has become the small of rain.

Chuck White · July 10, 2012, 08:05:42 PM

I think it's just the earth saying aaahhhh!

Magicman · July 10, 2012, 08:46:28 PM

I smelled it today. Had a nice ½ hour break from sawing while the shower passed through.

tyb525 · July 10, 2012, 08:54:28 PM

The smell I'm smelling is the grass slowly crumbling into dust, dehydrating. It is so dry here, if we got 3" of rain tomorrow it would all run off the top layer and dry up again.

red oaks lumber · July 10, 2012, 10:14:08 PM

that is the smell of money! rain makes grain

davch00 · July 10, 2012, 11:42:53 PM

Last year everyone was starting to hate that smell..everyone was also very worried that the the Mighty Mississippi was about to come over the levee to. This year up until a two days ago we couldn't buy a rain.

shelbycharger400 · July 11, 2012, 04:22:54 PM

even thou it has been spotty for rain, its a good thing, the mississippi here is pritty full from about 2 weeks ago when it rained a lot.

last couple of weeks it has been warm here too, its kinda nice this week, but what i here its goin to get up their again by sunday.

here in mn... we have winters that are 30 below or more, and summers that are 95 to 100 deg. or to further shake things up, 60 in the winter, and i remember few years back it was in the 40's in july. its a great place to live

SamB · July 11, 2012, 06:10:13 PM

Quote from: florida on July 10, 2012, 04:03:32 PM
That smell is called petrichor. Really. There's a compound in the soil called geosmin which is released when hit by raindrops. Humans are very sensitive to the smell and since we usually only smell it when it rains it has become the small of rain.

Web searched petrichor , thanks for an accurate answer learned something today.

sandhills · July 12, 2012, 01:47:56 PM

Dang! didn't know Mn had the same weather as Nebraska, just hope yours has a little more moisture involved.

Ironwood · July 12, 2012, 06:21:56 PM

Thanks too.
I know the smell, didnt know the name.

I also did not know that "parbuckliing" had a name

Petrichor, and geosmin, good stuff, now the guys already call me "Norm" as in Cheers, one more tidbit to but in my memory bank. ;D

Ironwood