Why does the earth smell just before it rains?

Answer 1

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The smell emnates from a chemical buried in the soil called 'geosmin'(literally,earth smell).
This smell is given off by a bacteria.This bacteria(called Actinomycetus) grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm.When the soil dries out,the bacteria produces the geosmin spores in the soil as a survival strategy..When the rain hits the soil in a nearby place,it kicks up an aerosol of water and soil and spores into the air,where they are easier to smell(just like an air freshner).
We breathe in fine particles of soil containing the bacteria.

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Sounds very plausible

Answer 2

maybe it's the smell being blown in from the area that just received rain. kind of like dust & pollen and stuff that got kicked up and blown over.

Answer 3

normal before rain but i love the scent that is in atmosphere after the rain.

Answer 4

I'm not sure but I'm guessing that it has something to do with heat within the atmosphere.

Answer 5

good question i dont know though,, the copper electric lines overhead by our house go very blue before a storm too