The Future of the UTC Time Scale

Ronald L. Beard

Abstract:	The international atomic time scale used by broadcast time and frequency services through out the world is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). UTC is defined by the Radio-Communication Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R), and is generated and maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in cooperation with the International Earth reference and Rotation Service (IERS). Contributions from timing centers and laboratories distributed around the world make up the time and frequency measurements and comparisons that determine UTC. The IERS provides earth rotation data so that UTC can be adjusted to within 0.9 seconds of Earth rotation time (UT1). These adjustments are known as leap- seconds. This procedure was implemented in 1972 to permit UT1 to be recovered from UTC for celestial navigation purposes. The frequency of leap seconds is dependent on the dynamics of the earth which is decelerating.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2008 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 28 - 30, 2008 The Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	127 - 132
Cite this article:	Updated citation: Published in NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In

ION Technical Content