International authorities to vote on abolishing the leap second
Member states are heading to the polls to vote on abolishing the leap second, which has long been debated and causes serious disruptions in technology systems.
Member states of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures are preparing to vote on a proposal to abolish the leap second, which causes disruptions in digital infrastructures and technology systems. If the proposal is adopted, the decision is expected to enter into force in May 2027.
Purpose of the Leap Second
The leap second is used to balance the difference between astronomical time based on Earth's rotation and Coordinated Universal Time measured by precise atomic clocks. The system has been applied to global clocks a total of 27 times since 1972, thereby ensuring that the two time systems remain compatible with each other.
Changes in Earth's Rotation Speed
Earth's rotation speed does not occur at a constant rate. Small changes in the planet's movements are affected by various factors such as the Moon's gravity, changes in Earth's core, and the melting of polar ice caps due to climate change. This situation leads to differences between atomic clocks and astronomical time.
Problems Experienced in Technology Infrastructures
Leap seconds added at irregular intervals cause technical problems in data servers, high-frequency financial transaction systems, and computer networks requiring precise timing. Additions made in the past have led to outages and disruptions on some major social media platforms and airline reservation systems.
May 2027 Vote and Expectations
If the proposal is accepted in the vote expected to be held with the participation of 69 member countries of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, the regulation is anticipated to take effect in May 2027. Countries had decided at the 2022 meeting to abolish the leap second by 2035.
Negative Leap Second Concern
The short-term acceleration trend in Earth's rotation has brought up the scenario of a negative leap second, which means subtracting a second from time in the future. It is stated that this method, which has never been applied before, could cause severe confusion in digital systems.
Leap Hour Application Might Be Agenda in the Future
The new proposal recommends keeping the difference between atomic time and astronomical time limited to a maximum of one hour. While it is expected to take more than 3,000 years for this limit to be exceeded, it is noted that future generations could decide on a leap hour application if necessary.