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What is a leap second? Major upcoming change in timekeeping!
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News18•12-10-2026, 12:57
What is a leap second? Major upcoming change in timekeeping!
- •Leap seconds are used to keep clock time synchronized with the Earth's daily rotation and compensate for its varying speed.
- •In October 2026, international timekeeping bodies may revise policies regarding the addition of leap seconds.
- •Due to unusual changes in Earth's rotation speed since 2015, experts may soon need to introduce negative leap seconds for the first time.
- •A proposal is under consideration to eliminate the random addition of leap seconds by May 20, 2027, and transition to a continuous time system.
Key Questions Answered
Just as a leap year keeps the calendar synchronized with Earth's orbit around the Sun, a leap second keeps clock time synchronized with Earth's daily rotation.
Earth has been rotating at an unusual speed since around 2015, which could require the future introduction of negative leap seconds and poses urgent challenges for computer systems.
The General Conference on Weights and Measures will be held from October 13 to 15, 2026, to discuss converting UTC into a continuous time system and eliminating random leap seconds starting May 20, 2027.
