Rain returns in mid-October

It took until mid-October for significant rainfall to return, bringing with it the familiar scent of wet earth known as petrichor, which many people find nostalgic and comforting.

Petrichor and climate change

Scientific American reports that petrichor, the scent of rain on dry soil, may change as climate change alters the environment, affecting the chemical composition of the air and the plants that contribute to its aroma.

Threats to natural scents

Smithsonian Magazine highlights that pollution, biodiversity loss, and global warming together pose a significant threat to many of Earth's natural scents, including those produced by plants and soil bacteria.

Chemical origins of petrichor

Petrichor results from the impact of raindrops on soil and plants, creating microscopic bubbles filled with geosmin from soil bacteria and aromatic oils from plants, which then disperse into the air.

Future of petrichor

In regions expecting more rain, the scent of petrichor may become less intense as the aromatic compounds do not have time to accumulate, though the effects of prolonged drought on geosmin remain unknown.

Deforestation in the Amazon slows

Between August 2025 and July 2026, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon decreased by 42% compared to the previous year, reaching its lowest level since 1988, according to Folha de São Paulo.

Lula's policies and the election

This decline is attributed to policies under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, including strengthened environmental agencies and financial penalties, as he faces Flávio Bolsonaro in the upcoming presidential election.

Google's investment in Finland

Google plans to invest 13 billion euros in Finland by 2029 to build data centers, but two of its proposed sites have been paused due to deforestation before proper environmental studies were completed.

Public pressure on data centers

Helsinki is under pressure to regulate and monitor the 145 data infrastructure projects launched since 2024, as public opposition to their environmental impact grows.

UN report on climate goals

A UN Environment Programme report states that even if countries meet their current climate commitments, global warming could still reach 2.6°C by 2100, though reducing emissions could limit this increase.

Impact of emission cuts

The Guardian notes that cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 18% by 2030 and 45% by 2045 could limit warming to 1.7°C, though extreme weather events like recent heatwaves would still occur.