Kristi Cashman -- Oceanography

Duke University
Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences
103 Old Chemistry Box 90229
Durham, NC 27708
919-684-5245
e:kristi.cashman@duke.edu

Research Interests:
Water mass migration; climate change

Motivation:
For as long as I can remember, my life has been affected by the ocean.  I grew up in a coastal community just north of Boston and was fortunate enough to have parents that encouraged my interest in the sea and impressed upon me its power and importance in our lives.  After sailing from Hawaii to San Francisco in 2005 as part of the Sea Education Association program, I knew that I wanted to make a career out of studying the ocean.  I completed my undergraduate degree and headed straight for Duke!

Current Research
I am currently working with my advisor, Susan Lozier, to study the northward penetration of the Mediterranean outflow.  As waters at high latitudes get warmer and fresher, it is important to understand the source of salt for high latitude waters.  The Mediterranean Sea is a source of salt for the North Atlantic and as such it is important to understand how it distributes its salinity signature and whether it supplies salt to high latitude waters via direct or indirect pathways.  I am taking a “three pronged approach” to look at this issue- using historical hydrographic data, high resolution model output, and records from corals and mollusks to get at this issue. 

Education:

• BS, Chemistry, Bucknell University, 2006
• Sea Education Association- Class 2005

Advisor: Susan Lozier