Petrichor and Ozone: The science behind the smell of rain

Name: Petrichor and Ozone: The science behind the smell of rain
Uploaded: 2026-03-20T06:17:23Z
Duration: 59 s
Description: Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari explains "Petrichor," the distinct smell after rain, named by Australian scientists in 1964. He details how it's caused by rain disturbing natural oils in plants and the compound Geosmin, produced by soil bacteria. He also discusses how lightning during a rainstorm creates ozone, which has a sharp, clean scent similar to chlorine.

Fox Weather @ Night · FWX · Mar 20, 2026 · 59s

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Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari explains "Petrichor," the distinct smell after rain, named by Australian scientists in 1964. He details how it's caused by rain disturbing natural oils in plants and the compound Geosmin, produced by soil bacteria. He also discusses how lightning during a rainstorm creates ozone, which has a sharp, clean scent similar to chlorine.