Most of us have had that oddly satisfying moment where we pause, sniff the air, and say, “Smells like rain’s […] ...

It's hot outside and sticky, but while the monsoon has arrived in Phoenix, there's not enough moisture for rain.

Why is the smell of Arizona's monsoon so distinctive? It releases the aromas of the desert, one ecologist says.

The smell of rain is called “petrichor,” and its origins are surprisingly complex. Image: Sally Anscombe / Getty Images ...

As a thick layer of Saharan dust stretches from the Atlantic to the Gulf, the Big Bend region could see some brilliant sunsets and sunrises – or some dirty rain. The dust is expected to arrive ...

NATIONAL (KXRM) — As Colorado heads into spring storm season, some will enjoy not only the sights but also the smells of a rainstorm. But how is the smell of rain created in the first place? The ...

There is a universal “smell of the outside,” no matter where you are. We dig into the two main compounds responsible for this smell - geosmin and ozone.

The smell of rain can be caused by one of three things. Soil-dwelling bacteria secrete geosmin when producing spores as raindrops help release that earthy smelling chemical into the air.

Rain itself has no scent. But moments before a rain event, an “earthy” smell known as petrichor does permeate the air.

Science Behind the Forecast: The Smell of Rain Listen to Science Behind the Forecast with Meteorologist Tawana Andrew every Friday on 89.3 WFPL at 7:45 a.m. and on Spotify.