GEOG 103 – Weather and Climate
Are you curious to know the basics of Weather and Climate? Are you confused by what you hear about climate change in the media? Are storms and weather extremes really on the rise? What are atmospheric rivers? Does El Niño cause heavy rain and flooding in Southern California? Can our activities really influence weather and climate? Is geoengineering and cloud seeding a real thing?
If questions like these spark your curiosity, the course Weather and Climate is for you. By the end of the course, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the physical processes that drive weather and climate—and you’ll be able to answer these and many other questions with clarity and confidence.
The course Weather and Climate enables students to answer a wide range of real-world questions related to weather and climate by providing foundational knowledge of atmospheric processes and their drivers. In addition to covering the physical principles, we also explore severe weather events of practical significance, including heatwaves, wildfires, air pollution, lightning, and the unpredictable and potentially devastating hurricanes and tornadoes. We examine how these weather systems impact our planet and its population, and how human activities may be influencing the environment we live in.
Starting Fall 2025, this course will be offered by Dr. Sagar Parajuli, who is a Research Scientist/Adjunct Faculty at San Diego State University (SDSU), Department of Geography. Dr. Parajuli has heavily redesigned the course content for an impactful learning experience.
Lectures will be delivered using a combination of PowerPoint slides and detailed lecture notes. The instructor will frequently use the whiteboard to illustrate key physical processes and highlight important concepts in real time. This interactive approach is designed to enhance understanding and promote long-term retention of knowledge, even beyond the classroom. Rather than overwhelming students with a large number of slides, his focus is on fostering meaningful discussion and critical thinking. The instructor strongly encourage students to ask questions at any time—before, during, or after class—as active participation is central to the learning experience.
Feel free to reach out to the instructor by email if you have any questions about the course and the syllabus.
