[LEAPSECS] Fwd: IERS Message No. 282: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to retain "leap second"

[Rob Seaman]

FYI

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: central_bureau at iers.org
> Date: November 23, 2015 at 9:50:38 AM MST
> To: messages at iers.org
> 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 <central_bureau at iers.org>.
> Archives: http://www.iers.org/Messages/
> ************************************************************************
> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/leapsecs/attachments/20151123/bac363ee/attachment.html>