What Is Petrichor? About The Scent Of First Rain
PETRICHOR – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about the earthly scent of first rain, which is known as petrichor.
You face very hot summer day like your place has never seen the rain for a very long time then the latter occurred. as the first drops of summer rain fall to the hot dry ground, you begin to smell something fragrant, as if you literally “smell the rain”.
Well, there is a term for that, and it is the term “petrichor”. It is derived from the
As mentioned above, it is basically the earthly scent of first rain. The cause of the smell does not come from the rain, but rather the moistening of the ground Greek petra or petros, both meaning ‘rock‘, and īchōr, which is said to be the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology.
This was discovered and described by Australian scientists Isabel Bear and Richard Thomas in March 1964. Prior to its description, it is referred to as an “argillaceous odour”.
The odor is a combination of fragrant chemical compounds, the website EarthSky says.
Among the components include some from oils made by plants but the main contributor are actinobacteria, which are tiny microorganisms found in rural and urban areas and marine environments.
Actinobacteria decompose dead or decaying organic matter into simple chemical compounds, which become nutrients for developing plants and other organisms. Geosmin is a byproduct of the process, which contributes to the scent we know and love, the website added.
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