Before talking directly about the reasons for the appearance of a specific aroma after rain and its beneficial properties, I would just like to talk about how beautiful this phenomenon itself is - rain, and plunge into that primitive state, which does not know the fear of water falling from the sky.

Let's remember how we perceived rain as children. Not at all like many people now. With joyful exclamations, we ran out into the soft mushroom rain or heavy downpour, raised our faces to the sky and tried to catch small droplets of what seemed to us living water with our palms. Satisfied, we splashed through the puddles barefoot, jumped and fell, dirtying clothes that were not at all important to us. And what a pleasure it was to launch paper boats along streams after the rain!

All this is familiar to many. Growing up, we forget about many pleasures, including the fact that rain can bring joy. We always have an umbrella at hand, but if we don’t have it nearby, it immediately starts to drizzle, and then we rush under the canopy, angry and wet, or scold nature for the unexpected surprise.

In this case, we can advise one thing - to reconcile and accept what is happening as a given. Just start feeling the rain on yourself and don’t worry about your hair or makeup done in the morning. After all, all this can be corrected, the main thing is that you will not miss this magnificent moment of your life, when small pearls of nature fell from heaven on you, thereby dedicating you to its chosen ones and reminding you of who you are. You are part of nature, you are that child splashing through puddles with sunny smile on his face, and perceiving the world with his whole being.
You will feel a surge of energy and get truly enormous pleasure from being here and now.

Such a different rain

Rain evokes different associations and memories for everyone. Surely many people like to watch the rain from a cozy cafe, drinking a mug of hot tea with a piece of pie, or sitting on the windowsill in their apartment from an open window, watching the wet city and thinking with pleasant sadness about the eternal.

Like every person, rain has its own character. It can be summery and light, cruel and merciless. But no matter what kind of rain it is, it is it that feeds all life on earth, thanks to it trees and flowers grow, animals get something to drink, rivers and reservoirs maintain their level. Without rain, nothing could exist on earth.

The secret of clean air

Surely you have paid attention to how fresh the air becomes after the rain has passed. The essence of this phenomenon is that after rain the air is maximally saturated with negatively charged ions, which are responsible for our high vital activity, active work brain, etc. The fewer such ions in the air we breathe, the more tired we feel and the weaker our immunity. Negatively charged ions cleanse the air of harmful substances, stinking gases, and kill harmful microbes. Therefore, after it has rained, do not sit at home, go outside, breathe clean air, because thanks to the rain, all the city dust settles, the dirt is washed away and the stuffiness disappears. It's time for a walk!

Why does the smell appear after rain?

Another phenomenon associated with rain is the special smells that reign in the atmosphere after rain. Their appearance is explained by various factors:

• In 1964, two scientists from Australia coined the term for the scent after rain. They named him Petrichor. This term is formed from two Greek words: petra (stone) and ichor (ichor - the liquid flowing in the veins of the Greek gods). This smell is formed as a result of an organic compound called geosmin (Greek - the smell of earth). Geosmin is a waste product of soil-dwelling bacteria and blue-green algae.
• The most pleasant smell after rain is caused by bacteria known as actinomycetes. This type of bacteria is distributed throughout the earth. They grow in soil in warm, moist conditions. In dry weather, bacteria release spores into the soil, and rain lifts the spores into the air and creates an aerosol effect.
• The pleasant smell of freshness is also a consequence of the formation of ozone in the air. Ozone has healing properties: it destroys pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi in the body, increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, stimulates metabolism, and activates the work of enzymes. Mountain air is also famous for its high ozone content.
  If someone says that they smell the approaching rain, then this means that they smell ozone.
• The smell after rain may be due to essential oils that are released by plants and trees. They accumulate oils on their surfaces, and rain, reacting with them, spreads odors through the air.

Conclusion

Where are you now? Is it raining or is the sun shining? Look at nature, how it accepts everything that happens in it. You can learn a lot from nature.

Rain is beautiful, like everything in nature. How many musicians, poets, and artists he inspired to create new works! The rain is unpredictable, the rain is great! Love the rain as it is, and love yourself as you are.

Harmony to you in any weather!

After the rain, an incomparable aroma appears in the air. The smell of rain brings freshness to dusty cities and enlivens sultry forests. But what kind of smell is it, how is it formed and what is it associated with in different people.

Research scientists have conducted many experiments related to rain. They were interested not only in the smell, but also in other aspects associated with this natural phenomenon.

A drop falls onto the surface at a certain speed, after which it captures air bubbles that form underneath it. These bubbles are microscopic, their diameter is no greater than the thickness of a human hair. Afterwards, the air, having passed through the entire thickness of the drop, breaks upward, capturing bacteria from the water along the way and further spreading in the environment.

Bacteria that have entered the air bubbles are alive and can remain in this state for an hour.

Formation of the smell of rain and its other characteristics

First of all, it is worth noting that the smell of rain is divided into two types - the one that precedes it and the one that remains after it has passed.

By the smell of ozone, you can accurately determine that it will rain soon. Its origin is explained by the splitting of oxygen molecules by the electrical discharge of lightning. In this case, free oxygen atoms combine into a triatomic molecule - O3. Next, the resulting ozone particles are carried out of the clouds with the downward air flow to the ground itself.

For a long time, scientists could not understand how the smell arises after rain. But thanks to the latest instruments and methods, they were able to determine that the culprit was a specific substance – geosmin, which is responsible for the characteristic odor. Bacteria living in the soil are responsible for the production of this substance. In order to catch this smell, you need to wait for the first drops of rain, which will lift geosmin into the air. It is then carried through the air by the wind. This type The smell has a specific name - Petrichor. Its appearance most often occurs after light rains.

The smell of rain is divided into two types - the one that precedes it and the one that remains after it has passed.

It is also worth noting that when an odor occurs, a chemical reaction occurs. This is especially pronounced during a long period of drought. Water molecules combine with plant oils. It is the vapors that are released as a result of this reaction that create the smell that many people like so much.

The most pleasant smell is the one obtained by interaction with Actinomycetes bacteria. This is a type of filamentous bacteria that can be found in soil under warm, moist conditions. When the soil dries out, microorganisms release their spores into the soil. Raindrops, with the force of their impacts, lift tiny spores into the air, where they are found in the form of an aerosol. We inhale them along with moist air. The specific earthy smell of this type of bacteria is often perceived by people as the smell of rain. Since microorganisms develop and multiply in moist soil, the odor becomes more noticeable after a long drought, but it can be noticed to a greater or lesser extent after most rains.

Another characteristic of the smell of rain is its acidity, which also determines the shades of the aroma. An acidic environment can exist not only in urban environments, but also in other places. This is due to the combination of moisture with chemicals from soil or organic debris and undergoing certain aromatic reactions. Rainwater also falls on the soil, washes it out, and combines with minerals. A reaction occurs with chemicals, such as gasoline, increasing their odor. These reactions do not produce as pleasant a smell as bacteria, so the aroma of rain is not always good. But just as with bacteria, the smell becomes more noticeable and pronounced when rain is preceded by a period of drought. This is due to the fact that a one-time reaction with rainfall will be more complete than repeated erosion of the remains of organic substances.

Associations and sensations

Since the origin of the smell of rain can be completely different, therefore it evokes completely different associations. Thus, the aroma that is caused by the connection with the substance geosmin is associated by many with mustiness, humidity and dampness. This substance is often found in moist soil - in cellars, wells, etc.

Basically, the smell of rain is associated with freshness and lightness. In the forest it is the smell of wet grass, trees, mushrooms. Each place has its own specific shades and tones that give it its unique aroma. Trees, or rather their wood, absorb moisture and take a long time to dry out. Therefore, this smell persists for quite a long time. Therefore, their smell is felt not only during rain, but also after it.

The smell of Petrichor evokes various associations - for some with freshly cut grass, for others with washed laundry, without the addition of fragrances and flavors.

Ozone released on the eve of rain, although it has a rather pungent odor, is liked by most people.

Many people like this aroma so much that perfumers produce entire lines of various aromatic compositions especially for such lovers. Also on sale are air fresheners, fabric softeners, powders and much more, marked “with the smell of rain” in the name.

Petrichor is a rare phenomenon that was discovered only in the middle of the 20th century. Petrichor- the smell that the earth emits after rain. In other words, these are oils from plants that are absorbed during dry times rocks or clay types of soil, and after rains they are released and fill the air and create a special aroma.

Petrichor - what is it, how is it formed

After the rains petrichor released into the atmosphere along with geosmin (a substance related to odorants and affects the organoleptic properties drinking water) and a metabolic product of antinobacteria.

The term was first coined in 1964 by Isabella Bear and Roderick Thomas, who mentioned it in the journal Nature. Scientists later stated that these oils delayed seed germination and early growth of the plants themselves. This suggests that they secrete them to retard growth in unfavorable conditions.


The word “petrichor” comes from 2 Greek words “petra” - stone and “ichor” - liquid from the veins of the gods (in Greek mythology). In English, the word is spelled petrichor and is sometimes pronounced petrichor.
In 2015, scientists at the Massachusetts University of Technology conducted experiments on how petrichor is formed. Raindrops hitting a porous surface produce aerosols, with droplets moving at lower speeds producing more of them. That’s why the smell of earth appears more often after light rain.
And yet, in a word petrichor accent must be placed on the last syllable, since this is borrowed from foreign languages word.

After rain, especially after a downpour that breaks a long dry period, the world is filled with a unique smell. What is the source of this strange, clean, earthy smell?

To be honest, it's not that clean here...

And now, in order...

One of the benefits of living in California is the regular "tasting" of this smell. In California, rain usually begins after a long dry spell. summer period, around October-November. Immediately after rain, an intense smell appears that is difficult to describe in words. This is an incredibly strong and unforgettable aroma. What are we talking about California... In Russia this smell has not disappeared anywhere, here it is just as strong, just as intense and so unique.

Some people identify this smell and describe it in a simple word- "clean" and they think it probably came from the ozone. Oxygen atoms usually travel in the evaporation of rain, and ozone consists of three oxygen atoms connected to each other, which is what many people think and carries this “clean” smell. A similar smell can be felt near waterfalls or after a lightning strike...

Ozone, by the way, is sometimes used to kill unpleasant odors, especially the smell of smoke and mold. The clean after-rain scent is partly due to this ozone cleansing, but we mistakenly think that all "after-rain" smell is ozone. Ozone has a smell, its own smell, and it is different from the smell “after rain”.

By the way, some say that the "after rain" smell is similar to the smell of geranium, and others say that it is a slight smell of bleach. I want to warn you right away that the smell “after rain” is dangerous to health; prolonged inhalation of it can lead to pulmonary edema. This is “ozone”... Or not?

A little later... And now let's focus on the third component - the key to the truth. This component is subtle notes of earth. I don’t feel all of it, but you can feel those subtle notes of earth that hover after the rain... And now the answer.

In almost any soil on Earth you will find bacteria called actinomycetes. These bacteria tend to grow in rich, moist and polluted soils. By the way, they are included in many medications and have been helping people for quite a long time, but in the form in which we inhale them they can be dangerous.

Yes. Actinomycetes - this is the answer to our question

When soil dries out, bacteria release spores that can survive dry and hot weather, "hiding" in the mud. And then, when it rains, it is these spores that fly into the air, and it is they that we inhale, and it is they that, with prolonged inhalation, can lead to pulmonary edema...

And you... "Ozone, ozone..."

BACTERIA!!!

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So I don’t recommend eating low-calorie sweets while you’re walking down the street after the rain... Women's magazines They may give you some practical advice, but science in this case can negate a lot.

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Scientists have explained why people like the smell of rain

© Photo by Ksenia Buletova

WASHINGTON, June 27. Many people love the smell of rain. This is inherent in human nature. In fact, some scientists believe that man inherited his love for the smell of rain from his ancestors, for whom rainy weather equated with survival.

However, why does a person like the smell of rain rather than the rain itself? Scientists managed to find a solution.

There are several scents that are associated with precipitation and which appeal to a person, reports “Rout”.

One of these scents is called petrichor. He appears when It is raining after a long drought. The term petrichor, which accompanies this phenomenon, was coined 50 years ago by Australian scientists who studied the odors of humid and damp weather.

This is a derivative of two chemical reactions. During periods of drought, some plants produce oils, and when it rains, oil vapors are released, creating aroma.

The second reaction that creates this odor occurs when chemicals produced by soil bacteria known as actinomycetes are released.

Another scent that is associated and associated with rain is the smell of ozone. During a thunderstorm, lightning breaks down hydrogen and nitrogen molecules into the atmosphere, which in turn are transformed into nitric oxide.

This substance reacts with other chemicals in the air to form ozone, which has a pungent odor that most people nonetheless enjoy.

When someone claims that they can smell the approaching rain, it means that the wind from the approaching storm has brought with it the smell of ozone.

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