FYI > Begin forwarded message: > > From: [email protected] > Date: November 23, 2015 at 9:50:38 AM MST > To: [email protected] > Subject: IERS Message No. 282: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to retain > "leap second" > > ************************************************************************ > IERS Message No. 282 November 23, 2015 > ************************************************************************ > > > Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to retain "leap second" > > > New reference time scale to be considered by World Radiocommunication > Conference in 2023 > > Geneva, 19 November 2015 - The ITU World Radiocommunication Conference > (WRC-15), currently in session in Geneva from 2 to 27 November, has > decided that further studies are required on the impact and application > of a future reference time-scale, including the modification of > coordinated universal time (UTC) and suppressing the so-called "leap > second". > > Leap seconds are added periodically to adjust to irregularities in the > earth’s rotation in relation to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the > current reference for measuring time, in order to remain close to mean > solar time (UT1). A leap second was added most recently on 30 June 2015 > at 23:59:60 UTC. The proposal to suppress the leap second would have > made continuous reference time-scale available for all modern electronic > navigation and computerized systems to operate while eliminating the > need for specialized ad hoc time systems. > > The decision by WRC-15 calls for further studies regarding current and > potential future reference time-scales, including their impact and > applications. A report will be considered by the World > Radiocommunication Conference in 2023. Until then, UTC shall continue to > be applied as described in Recommendation ITU-R TF.460-6 > [https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-TF.460-6-200202-I/en] and as maintained > by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). > > WRC-15 also calls for reinforcing the links between ITU and the > International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). ITU would continue > to be responsible for the dissemination of time signals via > radiocommunication and BIPM for establishing and maintaining the second > of the International System of Units (SI) and its dissemination through > the reference time scale. > > Studies will be coordinated by ITU along with international > organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the > International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the General Conference > on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the International Committee for Weights > and Measures (CIPM), the International Bureau of Weights and Measures > (BIPM), the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service > (IERS), the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG), the > International Union of Radio Science (URSI), the International > Organization for Standardization (ISO), the World Meteorological > Organization (WMO), and the International Astronomical Union (IAU). > > "Modern society is increasingly dependent on accurate timekeeping," said > ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. "ITU is responsible for disseminating > time signals by both wired communications and by different > radiocommunication services, both space and terrestrial, which are > critical for all areas of human activity." > > "The worldwide coordination of time signals is critical for the > functioning and reliability of systems that depend on time," said > Francois Rancy, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau. "ITU will > continue to work with international organizations, industry and user > groups towards providing coherent advice on current and potential future > reference time-scales." > > > Source: ITU Press Release, > http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2015/53.aspx > > > ************************************************************************ > IERS Messages are edited and distributed by the IERS Central Bureau. > If not stated otherwise, the IERS is only the distributor of the message > and is not responsible for its content. > To submit texts for distribution and to subscribe or unsubscribe, > please write to <[email protected]>. > Archives: http://www.iers.org/Messages/ > ************************************************************************ >
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