* You are known for your study of solar flares, which, over the last few years, have caused disruption of communication satellites. Are we going to face more such disruptions?
It may be interesting to note that scientists across the world in 2005 had said that spots in the sun would increase to 50. However, our latest study reveals that there are about two to three spots on the surface of the sun. Certainly, it is not just the spots that cause the solar flares, but also increased activity above the surface of the sun that causes these flares to enter the atmosphere. There are bound to be more disruptions because there is a manifold increase in the number of satellites that relay the communications to us. In case of solar flares, we have not yet made any significant advances in the predictions. Therefore, it will be difficult for us to predict how it will shape up in the future. However, flares are cyclical unlike the global weather, which is changing permanently because of rapid industrialisation.

* What is the significance of the solar eclipse on July 22 and how will be the observations made in Gujarat important?
The solar eclipse would be the greatest, as the Sun and Moon would be farthest from earth. Therefore, the shadow bands are expected to have larger areas under it. Gujarat being at a low elevation would render important data not just about the turbulences in the atmosphere but also about pollution.

... contd.