A Wonderleaf question
Why does the air smell different after rain?
a real page from the book
After rain, the air smells different because falling drops scrub particles from the air and splash scent-making chemicals off the ground. Damp soil releases geosmin, a smell made by soil bacteria, while wet leaves and pavement can send plant oils into the breeze.
That after-rain scent has a name: petrichor. Our noses can notice geosmin in astonishingly tiny amounts, which may have helped people long ago find fresh water. A storm with lightning can add ozone too, giving the air a quick sharp edge.
Wonder words
- geosmin
- petrichor
- ozone
- aerosol
Try it out
After a light rain, smell dry pavement, grass, and soil, then talk about which scent your family noticed first.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
- Why do mountains change the weather?
- Why is frost sparkly?
- Why is the sky sometimes gray?
- Why do clouds change shape?
- How do meteorologists predict the weather?
- Why is fog close to the ground?
One more wonder: Why is space so dark?
And the next question?
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