About the Future of UTC

Abstract:

The Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the international reference time-scale, and provides the basis for broadcast time signals and for time-keeping in the large majority of countries. In its current form, UTC is computed as the average of a large number of atomic clocks and its scale interval is based on the second in the International System units (SI), but it is adjusted by the occasional insertion of one second (called as leap second), to maintain close alignment with Universal Time 1 (UT1), a time-scale determined by the rotation of the Earth. The UTC system with leap seconds is not a continuous time scale, in resent years, several countries and international organizations have started a discussion on the need to abolish the application of leap second in UTC, however, some countries oppose it. Issues on leap second worldwide are presented in this paper.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 511-512)
• Pages: 209-212
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.511-512.209
• Online since: February 2014
• Authors: Shao Wu Dong*
• Keywords: Leap Second, TAI, Time, UT

References

[1] Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) 2006, The International System of Units (SI), (8th ed.; Sevres: BIPM).

DOI: 10.51257/a-v2-r80

[2] Information on http: /www. itu. int.

[3] Information on http: /tf. nist. gov.

[4] Information on http: /hpiers. obspm. fr.