the Holocene was particularly wet. A wetter climate would suggest that the propensity for thunderstorms was probably elevated, which would result in larger concentrations of fulgurite. These results pointed to the fact that the climate with which the fulgurite was formed was significantly different from the present climate because the current climate of the Saharan Desert is arid. The approximate age of the fulgurite was determined using thermoluminescence (TL). Quartz sands can be used to measure the amount of radiation exposure, so if the temperature at which the fulgurite was formed is known, one could determine the relative age of the mineral by examining the doses of radiation involved in the process. Fulgurites also contain air bubbles. Given that the formation of fulgurite generally takes only about one second, and the process involved in the creation of fulgurite involves several chemical reactions, it is relatively easy to trap gases, such as , within the vesicles. These gases can be trapped for millions of years. Studies have shown that the gases within these bubbles can indicate the soil characteristics during the formation of the fulgurite material, which hint at the paleoclimate. Since fulgurite is almost entirely composed of silica with trace amounts of calcium and magnesium, an approximation of the total amount of organic carbon associated with that lightning strike can be made to calculate a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio to determine the paleoenvironment. Paleomagnetism When geologists study paleoclimate, an important factor to examine is the magnetic field characteristics of rock types to determine not only deviations of Earth's past magnetic field, but also to study possible tectonic activity that might suggest certain climate regimes. Evidence of lightning activity can often be found in the paleomagnetic record. Lightning strikes are the result of tremendous charge buildup in clouds. This excess charge is transferred to the ground via lightning channels, which carry a strong electric current. Because of the intensity of this electric current, when lightning hits the ground, it can produce a strong, albeit brief, magnetic field. Thus, as the electric current travels through soils, rocks, plant roots, etc., it locks a unique magnetic signature within these materials through a process known as lightning-induced remanent magnetization (LIRM). Evidence of LIRM is manifested in concentric magnetic field lines surrounding the location of the lightning strike point. LIRM anomalies normally occur close to the location of the lightning strike, usually encapsulated within several meters of