The words âfluvialâ and âgeomorphologyâ are not âeveryday wordsâ for most college students. But, these words are a crucial part of Alexander Kalnaâs vocabulary.Â
Fluvial geomorphology examines the ways moving water interacts with the physical objects in it, therefore reshaping the landscape as it transports sediment.
âFluvial processes sculpt the landscape, eroding landforms, transporting sediment and depositing it to create new landforms,â The National Park Serviceâs website said. âHuman civilization and ecosystems alike are dependent on fluvial systems.â
Kalna, an environmental sciences graduate student from House Springs, Missouri, and his wife, social science graduate student Cristal Campocasso, of Venezuela, are focusing on a research project at Silver Creek Watershed. The watershed lies just 30 minutes from campus and is mostly located in Madison County but also runs though Macoupin and Montgomery counties.