What Causes the ‘Scent’ of a Rainy Day?

Rain has a special smell because the air changes when it rains. When rain falls, it hits the ground and starts to wash things away, like dirt and leaves. This makes the air smell fresh, kind of like after you’ve cleaned your room. Sometimes there’s also a little bit of ozone in the air, which gives it that sharp, clean scent people love.

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Examples

After a long dry summer, the first rain feels like it’s washing away all the old smells and bringing in something new.
You can almost taste the freshness in the air after a storm has passed.
Walking through a garden right after a rain shower makes everything smell more alive.

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Categories: Environment · rain,smell,science of nature,ozone