[LEAPSECS] [time-nuts] Leap second to be introduced at midnight UTC December 31 this year

[Martin Burnicki]

Brooks Harris wrote:
> On 2016-07-20 01:08 AM, Tom Van Baak wrote:
>> I recall this is a known problem in the Z3801A status reporting, and
>> possibly other GPS receivers of that era as well. It stems indirectly
>> from a change years ago in how far in advance IERS and DoD were able
>> to update the leap second info into the GPS constellation. Nowadays
>> it's common to get 6 months notice; it wasn't always that much.
>
> TF.460-6 says:
> "2.3    The IERS should decide upon and announce the introduction of a
> leap-second, such an announcement to be made at least eight weeks in
> advance."
> 
> Is there a statement in some document from BIPM or IERS that states
> their current announcement policy? How, when, and why is it different
> from 460? I mean, more lead time is a good thing, but what, exactly, is
> an implementer to expect and what standard would would they look to
> learn and confirm that?

Each bulletin C from IERS says:

"Leap seconds can be introduced in UTC at the end of the months of
December  or June, depending on the evolution of UT1-TAI. Bulletin C is
mailed every six months, either to announce a time step in UTC or to
confirm that there will be no time step at the next possible date."

Martin