Why does it smell like fish or wet dogs when it rains?

[browneyes]

I neither have a dog nor a fish. I live many miles from a big water source. It stormed here last night (rain, not snow). When I got to work, it smelled like a fish factory outside. Why does it do that?

 

[JasonLyons]

I came up with a reason but it would get deleted

 

[Tony-NJ]

I'm gonna throw out.

 

[browneyes]

LOL! You're going to throw out, Uncle Tony?

LOL! Jason, I can imagine your reason.

 

[piratesmate]

DH always laughs at me because I say it smells like worms! He says it's the ozone, but I KNOW it's the worms.

I never thought it smelled like fish or wet dog. I wonder if it's because of a difference in the soil between GA & PA??

 

[LarryE]

When the ground and plants are warmer, you can smell something. What you are really smelling comes not from the air, but the ground! Plants release oils that enter the soil and blend with the other earthy odors. These odors are released into the air when the relative humidity at ground level exceeds 75 percent.

Moist humid air will transmit odors far better than dry air. In these moist humid conditions we notice these odors more readily. And since rain is so often connected with moist humid air, we tend to associate one with the other.

 

[browneyes]

Thanks Larry. I just thought I was going crazy. I like to know the actual reason things are the way they are.

I have a very sensitive olfactory sense. I think the smell might not be as intense to others as it is to me. My SO never notices the fishy/wet doggy smell I do when it rains. He smells an acidity in the air sometimes. He just rolls his eyes at me when I tell him something smells fishy when it rains.

Piratesmate, I did see a lot of worms on the sidewalk at work this morning.

 

[Pam]

I'm with Piratesmate, I always smell worms! Gag!!!!

 

[perdidobay]

Did you know that's why scent-hunting dogs drool and have long ears? The moisture helps them pick up odors and the ears help stir the air so they can smell better!

 

[browneyes]

No I didn't know that, Perdidobay. I like knowing stuff like that. It's interesting.

Pam, I guess you don't like the scent of tequila.

 

[Saffron]

Ewwwww!

I've never smelled what you're talking about, but I've smelled what Pam and piratesmate are talking about. Ick!

Tony!

 

[Pam]

Pam, I guess you don't like the scent of tequila.

Guess I should 'fess up - I have never tasted any form of alcohol in my life - no beer, no wine, no champagne, nothing. So........ can't say about the tequila! Although, in his younger days, DH has confessed to swallowing the worm in the tequila bottle! (He hasn't tasted alcohol for almost 17 years now!!)

Oh - but I did smoke one cigarette when I was 12 yrs. old! (See, I can walk on the wild side!! )

 

[smileybrat]

i agree with the others that say it smells like worms. if you don't believe me go smell a worm.

 

[MerryPoppins]

My question is, why do most dogs feet smell like Fritos? They do. Smell your dogs paws.

 

[apagano]

I'm no scientist, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I always thought the fish smell came from the fact that rainwater originates in the ocean, where there are lots of fish. Most of the rain that falls in the eastern half of the country comes from water that enters the atmosphere from the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Pam
Guess I should 'fess up - I have never tasted any form of alcohol in my life - no beer, no wine, no champagne, nothing. So........ can't say about the tequila! Although, in his younger days, DH has confessed to swallowing the worm in the tequila bottle! (He hasn't tasted alcohol for almost 17 years now!!)

Oh - but I did smoke one cigarette when I was 12 yrs. old! (See, I can walk on the wild side!! )

Wow, not even communion wine? Or red wine sauces?

 

[Pam]

Jeff,

Wow, not even communion wine? Or red wine sauces?

Zippo. I'm Church of God (now Methodist) and didn't do the communion wine thing. Don't like sauces - heck, I don't even like pepper! Same thing with salad dressing, hate it.

Never even did the fake wine cooler/beer thing. I know - I'm extremely weird - 41.5 yrs. old to boot!!

(I do confess to having a foul mouth, though - to my mortification! )

 

[catsrule]

Originally posted by JasonLyons
I came up with a reason but it would get deleted

I thought the same thing. Weird minds think alike.