Re: [LEAPSECS] Stupid question from programmer: Why not just eliminate ALL UTC corrections ?

From: Ed Davies <ls_at_edavies.nildram.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 08:59:33 +0100

Scott Moore wrote:
> ....
> So lets say we get rid of UTC corrections, leap seconds, hours, everything.
> No corrections, because UTC will be defined as "whatever the freaking
> planet is doing". If user X is capable if figuring out the current
> solar/earth time to 10 places, cool. All that matters is that the time
> reference generators like WWV, and Internet time servers have good to
> excellent accuracy, I.e., they can calculate solar time from atomic
> time with enough places to satisfy everyone concerned.
> ....

What you are failing to realise is that the "time reference
generators" you mention serve two purposes: to transmit a
reference time (as you mention) but also to act as a standard
frequency service. Using UT1 or somesuch (Earth angle time) as
you suggest results in variable length seconds. This was what
was done prior to 1972, when UTC was introduced to fix this.

Ed.
Received on Wed Aug 03 2005 - 01:10:08 PDT