The Smell after rain?

Hot is the word to describe the weather for the past few weeks, fortunately rain do pay visits to Earth for the past few nights. =)

So, yeah, what's up with the rain?

Well, just want to share something rain-related, more specifically, After-rain-related - Have you ever curious about what causes the wonderful, refreshing smell after rain?

Actually, there are many kinds of after-rain smell which are each caused by different stuff.

One of the most noticeable smell would be the ones caused by.... bacteria. Yup you heard me right, bacteria. The name is Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, found and grow in soil when the soils' condition are damp and warm. After the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. During rain, these tiny spores are smack right up into the air by the rainfall. The moist air after rain carries the spores and we breathe in those earthy-smell spores.

The bacteria is extremely common and can be found in areas all over the world, which is why this "after-the-rain" smell are kind of same in almost anywhere.

I personally like the refreshing smell, a lot, do you? =)

~13