Scientists say some people have the ability to smell when rain is coming

Despite the fact we are supposed to be in the height of summer, many Brits will be all too familiar with rain in recent days.

While many of our European friends bake in 40+ degree heat, temperatures back at home are struggling to reach 20 degrees.

Obviously, the weather forecast can sometimes be unreliable, so what if there was another way you could predict rain on the horizon?

Well, people will be all too familiar with that wonderful fresh smell that hangs in the air after rain.

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Typically, it only comes out really strongly when it rains after a prolonged period of sunshine - something that has been few and far between this year.

But it appears some people have claimed to be able to detect bad weather before it even arrives, which has led to many debates on social media.

The fact that some people can apparently smell rain before it comes has divided opinion, with some adamant they can smell it.

But those who have no such power have often labelled the smelling of rain before it arrives as a myth - so surely only science can prove or disprove this one.

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Well, believe it or not, there is some evidence to prove some people have the ability to smell rain before it arrives, a lot of which has to do with 'petrichor'.

The name petrichor comes from Greek - petros meaning stone (as in petrify), and ichor, which was the substance that flowed through the veins of the Greek gods.

The smell is produced by a soil bacteria, which releases a chemical called 'geosmin'.

Our ability to smell geosmin is rather impressive, even outdoing the ability of sharks to be able to detect blood.

This particular smell becomes most prevalent after a spell of rain, as when the raindrops hit the ground and flatten out, they can trap pockets of air in there.

These then bubble up like tiny aerosols, taking whatever chemicals and microorganisms happen to be there into the air with them.

But that isn't all, as the chemical 'ozone' is another source of smell.

Ozone has a distinct smell, which is sweeter than that of petrichor. The scent of ozone can sometimes indicate that a storm is on the way.

This is because pockets of ozone gas are pushed down to ground level by winds in the approaching storm.

Essentially, this means that they will be at the level where our nostrils are most likely to be able to pick them up.

You learn something new every day.

Topics: Science, News, Weather

Callum Jones

@CallumJ2709