Representatives from 69 countries have voted to abolish leap seconds, a practice used to keep global clocks synchronized with the Earth's rotation. The decision was made on October 15 at a meeting of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Versailles, France.
End of an Era for Leap Seconds
Leap seconds, first introduced in 1972, have been added 27 times to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to compensate for fluctuations in Earth's rotation. However, the increasing reliance on precise timekeeping for technological systems, including stock markets, telecommunications, and GPS, has made the addition of leap seconds problematic. Previous instances have been linked to disruptions such as website crashes and airline booking system failures.
The "Leap Hour" Alternative
The growing complexity and potential risks associated with leap seconds, coupled with recent slight accelerations in Earth's rotation, prompted the change. Instead of leap seconds, a "leap hour" will be adopted. This means UTC will be permitted to diverge from astronomical time by up to one hour before being corrected. This adjustment is expected to provide a stable time flow for centuries and will take effect from May 20, 2027. While the effects of the leap hour will be imperceptible for many hundreds or thousands of years, scientists will continue to monitor Earth's rotation for astronomical purposes.
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