Scientists have voted to eliminate leap seconds in the global time system
The General Conference on Weights and Measures decided to end the leap second practice. Atomic clocks will no longer add seconds to match Earth's rotation, starting May 20, 2027. The adjustment will allow a one-hour deviation between UTC and Earth's rotation time.
- The General Conference on Weights and Measures decided to abolish the leap second.
- The maximum allowed difference between UTC and Earth's rotation time will be extended to one hour.
- Atomic clocks will stop adding seconds to match Earth's rotation starting May 20, 2027.
- The leap second has been inserted 27 times since 1972.
- The leap second was introduced in 1972 to correct a discrepancy between atomic time and Earth's rotation.
- Astronomical time is based on Earth's rotation.
- A technical report estimates a chance of needing a negative intercalary second.
- The Conference of Weights and Measures approved delaying the end of these adjustments.
- The difference between UTC and UT1 was previously limited to 0.9 seconds.
- UTC is based on atomic clock measurements.
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