Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

GNSS times and UTC

W Lewandowski and E F Arias

Show affiliations


Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) use internal reference time scales: GPS Time, GLONASS Time, Galileo System Time and BeiDou System Time. Constructed from a clock ensemble, they are designed for internal system synchronization, necessary to produce a navigation solution. They are usually steered to an external stable reference time scale, for example UTC(USNO), modulo 1 s, for GPS time. To achieve safe operation of a GNSS, a system time should preferably be a uniform time scale not affected by the leap seconds of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). But this is not compatible with international recommendations that radio broadcast time signals should conform as closely as possible to UTC. This paper describes the various approaches chosen by GNSS providers and the relation between GNSS system times and UTC in terms of numbering of seconds. Different solutions for numbering seconds do not help the GNSS interoperability. This paper also explains why, on some occasions, GNSS system times play a role of alternative time scales with the consequent risk of confusion.


PACS

93.85.Pq Remote sensing in exploration geophysics

84.40.Ua Telecommunications: signal transmission and processing; communication satellites

91.10.Fc Space geodetic surveys

Subjects

Electronics and devices

Instrumentation and measurement

Environmental and Earth science

Dates

Issue 4 (August 2011)

Received 1 June 2011, in final form 15 June 2011

Published 20 July 2011



  1. GNSS times and UTC

    W Lewandowski and E F Arias 2011 Metrologia 48 S219

  2. Counting the atoms in a 28Si crystal for a new kilogram definition

    B Andreas et al 2011 Metrologia 48 S1

  3. Final report on the Seventh International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters (ICAG 2005)

    Z Jiang et al 2011 Metrologia 48 246

  4. Final report on the ongoing key comparison BIPM.QM-K1: Ozone at ambient level, comparison with EAA (September 2011)

    Joële Viallon et al 2011 Metrologia 48 08018

  5. Standard deviation of the mean and other time series properties of voltages measured with a digital lock-in amplifier

    Thomas J Witt and N E Fletcher 2010 Metrologia 47 616

  6. Final report on the on-going key comparison BIPM.QM-K1: Ozone at ambient level, comparison with VSL, 2008

    Joële Viallon et al 2010 Metrologia 47 08024

  7. Free-air ionization chambers

    D T Burns and L Büermann 2009 Metrologia 46 S9

  8. Air-kerma cavity standards

    L Büermann and D T Burns 2009 Metrologia 46 S24

  9. International framework of traceability for radiation dosimetry quantities

    Penelope J Allisy et al 2009 Metrologia 46 S1

  10. A review of Josephson comparison results

    B M Wood and S Solve 2009 Metrologia 46 R13

View by subject




Export






Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.