1 

NIST TIME AND FREQUENCY BULLETIN 

 NISTIR 6629-12 

 NO. 552 DECEMBER 2003 

 

1. GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION .......................................................................................... 2 

 

2. TIME-SCALE INFORMATION ............................................................................................................... 2 

 

3. PHASE DEVIATIONS FOR WWVB AND LORAN-C .............................................................................. 4 

 

4. BROADCAST OUTAGES OVER FIVE MINUTES AND WWVB 

 PHASE PERTURBATIONS .................................................................................................................... 5 

5. NOTES ON NIST TIME SCALES AND PRIMARY STANDARDS .......................................................... 5 

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................................... 5 

 

7. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS............................................................................................................... 7 

 

This bulletin is published monthly. Address correspondence to: 

 

Eyvon M. Petty, Editor 

Time and Frequency Division 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

325 Broadway 

Boulder, CO 8O3O5-3328 

(3O3) 497-3295 

Email: pettye@boulder.nist.gov

NOTE TO SUBSCRIBERS: Please include your address label (or a copy) 

with any correspondence regarding this bulletin. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, DONALD L. EVANS, Secretary

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION, Mr. Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director 

 
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1. GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS BULLETIN

ACTS - Automated Computer Time Service 

BIPM - Bureau International des Poids et Mesures 

Cs - Cesium standard 

GPS - Global Positioning System 

IERS - International Earth Rotation Service 

LORAN - Long Range Navigation 

MC - Master Clock 

MJD - Modified Julian Date 

NVLAP - National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 

NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology 

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ns - nanosecond 

SI - International System of Units μs - microsecond 

TA - Atomic Time ms - millisecond 

TAI - International Atomic Time s - second 

USNO - United States Naval Observatory min - minute 

UTC - Coordinated Universal Time 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 2. TIME SCALE INFORMATION

 The values listed below are based on data from the IERS, the USNO, and NIST. The UTC(USNO,MC) - UTC(NIST) values are 

averaged measurements from all available common-view GPS satellites (see bibliography on page 5). UTC - UTC(NIST) data are 

on page 3.

 0000 HOURS COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME 

NOV 2003 MJD UT1-UTC(NIST) 

 (±5 ms) 

UTC(USNO,MC) - UTC(NIST) 

 (±20 ns) 

6 52949 -372 ms -7 ns 

13 52956 -374 ms -9 ns 

20 52963 -378 ms -12 ns 

27 52970 -381 ms -12 ns 

 

 The master clock pulses used by the WWV, WWVH, and WWVB time-code transmissions are referenced to the UTC(NIST) time 

scale. Occasionally, 1 s is added to the UTC time scale. This second is called a leap second. Its purpose is to keep the UTC time 

scale within ±0.9 s of the UT1 astronomical time scale, which changes slightly due to variations in the Earth’s rotation. 

NOTE: NO leap second will be inserted at the end of December 2003.

 Positive leap seconds, beginning at 23 h 59 min 60 s UTC and ending at 0 h 0 min 0 s UTC, were inserted in the UTC 

timescale on 30 June 1972, 1981-1983, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1997, and on 31 December 1972-1979, 1987, 1989, 

1990,1995, and 1998. 

 The use of leap seconds ensures that UT1 - UTC will always be held within ±0.9 s. The current value of UT1 - UTC is called the 

DUT1 correction. DUT1 corrections are broadcast by WWV, WWVH, WWVB, and ACTS and are printed below. These corrections 

may be added to received UTC time signals in order to obtain UT1. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 +0.1 s beginning 0000 UTC 19 October 2000 

 +0.0 s beginning 0000 UTC 01 March 2001 

DUT1 = UT1 - UTC = -0.1 s beginning 0000 UTC 04 October 2001 

 -0.2 s beginning 0000 UTC 14 February 2002 

 -0.3 s beginning 0000 UTC 24 October 2002 

 -0.4 s beginning 0000 UTC 03 April 2003 

 
3 

 

The difference between UTC(NIST) from UTC has been within +/–100 ns since July 6, 1994. The table below shows 

values of UTC - UTC(NIST) as supplied by the BIPM in their Circular T publication for the most recent 310-day period in 

which data are available. Data are given at ten-day intervals. Five-day interval data are available in Circular T. 

0000 Hours Coordinated Universal Time 

DATE MJD UTC-UTC(NIST) ns 

Oct. 27, 2003 52939 1.8 

Oct. 17, 2003 52929 1.2 

Oct. 7, 2003 52919 3.9 

Sep. 27, 2003 52909 7.9 

Sep. 17, 2003 52899 7.5 

Sep. 7, 2003 52889 7.6 

Aug. 28, 2003 52879 7.7 

Aug. 18, 2003 52869 8.0 

Aug. 8, 2003 52859 10.2 

Jul. 29, 2003 52849 10.7 

Jul. 19, 2003 52839 12.7 

Jul. 9, 2003 52829 12.6 

Jun. 29, 2003 52819 9.2 

Jun. 19, 2003 52809 7.5 

Jun. 9, 2003 52799 3.8 

May 30, 2003 52789 0.6 

May 20, 2003 52779 4.0 

May 10, 2003 52769 10.4 

Apr. 30, 2003 52759 8.9 

Apr. 20, 2003 52749 10.7 

Apr. 10, 2003 52739 10.9 

Mar. 31, 2003 52729 11 

Mar. 21, 2003 52719 12 

Mar. 11, 2003 52709 11 

Mar. 1, 2003 52699 7 

Feb. 19, 2003 52689 8 

Feb. 9, 2003 52679 7 

Jan. 30, 2003 52669 2 

Jan. 20, 2003 52659 -1 

Jan. 10, 2003 52649 -5 

 

 
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3. PHASE DEVIATIONS FOR WWVB AND LORAN-C

WWVB - The values shown for WWVB are the time differences between the time markers of the UTC(NIST) time scale 

and the first positive-going zero voltage crossover measured at the transmitting antenna. The uncertainty of 

the individual measurements is ±0.5 μs. The values listed are for 1300 UTC. 

LORAN-C - The values shown for Loran-C represent the daily accumulated phase shift (in ns). The phase shift is 

measured by comparing the output of a Loran receiver to the UTC(NIST) time scale for a period of 24 h. If data 

were not recorded on a particular day, the symbol (-) is printed. The stations monitored are Baudette, ND 

(8970-Y) and Fallon, NV (9940). The monitoring is done from the NIST laboratories in Boulder, Colorado. 

Note: The values shown for Loran-C are in nanoseconds. 

 

 UTC(NIST)-WWVB (60 kHz) UTC(NIST) - LORAN PHASE (ns)

 

 ANTENNA PHASE LORAN-C (BAUDETTE) LORAN-C (FALLON) 

DATE MJD (μs) (8970) (9940) 

11/01/03 52944 5.64 +189 +314 

11/02/03 52945 5.64 +3 -210 

11/03/03 52946 5.64 -166 -73 

11/04/03 52947 5.64 +162 +500 

11/05/03 52948 5.62 -27 +136 

 

11/06/03 52949 5.63 -5 +383 

11/07/03 52950 5.64 -194 -293 

11/08/03 52951 5.64 +33 +330 

11/09/03 52952 5.63 -9 -90 

11/10/03 52953 5.63 -5 +80 

 

11/11/03 52954 5.64 +4 +130 

11/12/03 52955 5.65 +65 +475 

11/13/03 52956 5.64 -14 +86 

11/14/03 52957 5.65 +163 +257 

11/15/03 52958 5.65 -189 -263 

 

11/16/03 52959 5.64 +107 +186 

11/17/03 52960 5.63 -56 +417 

11/18/03 52961 5.63 +44 +186 

11/19/03 52962 5.64 -39 -29 

11/20/03 52963 5.63 +77 -12 

 

11/21/03 52964 5.63 +146 -27 

11/22/03 52965 5.63 -106 +249 

11/23/03 52966 5.63 -116 +199 

11/24/03 52967 5.63 +228 -229 

11/25/03 52968 5.63 -37 -150 

 

11/26/03 52969 5.62 -14 +311 

11/27/03 52970 5.62 +60 +463 

11/28/03 52971 5.62 -106 +120 

11/29/03 52972 5.62 -11 -548 

11/30/03 52973 5.61 +140 +398 

 
5 

 

4. BROADCAST OUTAGES OVER FIVE MINUTES AND WWVB PHASE PERTURBATIONS

OUTAGES OF 5 MINUTES OR MORE 

 

PHASE PERTURBATIONS 

2 ms 

Station NOV 

2003 

 MJD Began 

UTC 

Ended 

UTC 

Freq. NOV 

2003 

MJD Began 

 UTC 

End 

UTC 

WWVB 11-29-03 52972 1800 1910 60 kHz 

WWVB 11-15-03 52958 0512 0620 60 kHz 

WWVB 11-11-03 52954 1830 1920 60 kHz 

WWVB operated at reduced power during the time periods listed in the table below. The station normally outputs 50 kW. 

Date MJD Began (UTC) Ended (UTC) Power Level 

11-28-03 52971 1500 2345 29 kW 

11-26-03 52969 1500 2345 29 kW 

11-25-03 52968 1500 2345 29 kW 

11-24-03 52967 1500 2345 29 kW 

11-21-03 52964 1500 2345 29 kW 

5. NOTES ON NIST TIME SCALES AND PRIMARY STANDARDS 

 Primary frequency standards developed and operated by NIST are used to provide accuracy (rate) input to the BIPM. NIST-7 was 

the U.S. primary standard from 1994 to 1999, when it was replaced by NIST-F1, a cold-atom cesium fountain frequency standard. 

The uncertainty of NIST-F1 is currently about 1 part in 1015. 

 The AT1 scale is run in real-time by use of data from an ensemble of cesium standards and hydrogen masers. It is a free-running 

scale whose frequency is maintained as nearly constant as possible by choosing the optimum weight for each clock that contributes 

to the computation. 

 UTC(NIST) is generated as an offset from our real-time scale AT1. It is steered in frequency towards UTC by use of data published 

by the BIPM in its Circular T. Changes in the steering frequency will be made, if necessary, at 0000 UTC on the first day of the 

month, and occasionally at mid-month. A change in frequency is limited to no more than ± 2 ns/day. The frequency of UTC(NIST) is 

kept as stable as possible at other times. 

 UTC is generated at the BIPM using a post-processed time-scale algorithm and is not available in real-time. The parameters that 

we use to generate UTC(NIST) in real-time are therefore based on an extrapolation of UTC from the most recent available data. 

 

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Allan, D.W.; Hellwig, H.; and Glaze, D.J., "An accuracy algorithm for an atomic time scale," Metrologia, Vol.11, No.3, pp.133-138 

(1975). 

Allan, D.W.; Davis, D.D.; Weiss, M.A.; Clements, A.; Guinot, B.; Granveaud, M.; Dorenwendt, K.; Fischer, B.; Hetzel, P.; Aoki, S.; 

Fujimoto, M.; Charron, L.; and Ashby, N., “Accuracy of International Time and Frequency Comparisons Via Global Positioning System 

Satellites in Common-view,” IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. IM-34, pp.118-125, 1985. 

Jefferts, S.R.; Shirley, J.; Parker, T.E.; Heavner, T.P.; Meekhof, D.M.; Nelson, C., Levi, F.; Costanza, G.; De Marchi, A.; Drullinger, 

R.; Hollberg, L.; Lee, W.D.; and Walls, F.L., “Accuracy evaluation of NIST-F1,” Metrologia, Vol. 39, pp. 321-336, (2002). 

Lewandowski, W. and Thomas, C.; “GPS Time transfer,” Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 79, pp. 991-1000, 1991. 

Shirley, J.H.; Lee, W.D.; Drullinger, R.E.; “Accuracy evaluation of the primary frequency standard NIST-7,” Metrologia, Vol. 38, pp. 

427-458, (2001). 

Weiss, M.A.; Allan, D.W.; “An NBS Calibration Procedure for Providing Time and Frequency at a Remote Site by Weighting and 

Smoothing of GPS Common View Data,” IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. IM-36, pp. 572-578, 1987. 
 6 

Table 7.1 lists parameters that are used to define UTC(NIST) with respect to our real-time scale AT1. To find the 

value of UTC(NIST) - AT1 at any time T (expressed as a Modified Julian Day, including a fraction if needed), the 

appropriate equation to use is the one for which the desired T is greater than or equal to the entry in the T0

 column 

and less than the entry in the last column. The values of xls, x, and y for that month are then used in the equation 

below to find the desired value. The parameters x and y represent the offset in time and in frequency, respectively, 

between UTC(NIST) and AT1; the parameter xls is the number of leap seconds applied to both UTC(NIST) and UTC 

as specified by the IERS. Leap seconds are not applied to AT1. 

Table 7.1 

UTC(NIST) - AT1 = xls + x + y*(T −T0

) 

Month xls

(s) 

x 

(ns) 

y 

(ns/d) 

 T0

(MJD) 

Valid until 0000 on: 

(MJD) 

 Dec 03 -32 -257516.1 -39.4* 52974 53005* 

 Nov 03 -32 -256925.1 -39.4 52959 52974 

 Nov 03 -32 -256334.85 -39.35 52944 52959 

 Oct 03 -32 -255783.95 -39.35 52930 52944 

 Oct 03 -32 -255112.45 -39.5 52913 52930† 

 

 Sep 03 -32 -253927.745 -39.5 52883 52913 

 Aug 03 -32 -252702.95 -39.5 52852 52883 

 Jul 03 -32 -252228.95 -39.5 52840 52852 

 Jul 03 -32 -251473.7 -39.75 52821 52840† 

 Jun 03 -32 -251076.2 -39.75 52811 52821 

 Jun 03 -32 -250276.2 -40.0 52791 52811† 

 May 03 -32 -249652.2 -39.0 52775 52791 

 May 03 -32 -249052.2 -40.0 52760 52775† 

 Apr 03 -32 -248495.7 -39.75 52746 52760 

 Apr 03 -32 -247855.7 -40.0 52730 52746† 

 Mar 03 -32 -247415.7 -40.0 52719 52730 

 Mar 03 -32 -246607.7 -40.4 52699 52719† 

 Feb 03 -32 -246284.9 -40.35 52691 52699 

 Feb 03 -32 -245474.9 -40.5 52671 52691† 

 Jan 03 -32 -244906.5 -40.6 52657 52671 

 Jan 03 -32 -244218.0 -40.5 52640 52657† 

 Dec 02 -32 -243813.0 -40.5 52630 52640 

 Dec 02 -32 -242964.6 -40.4 52609 52630† 

 Nov 02 -32 -242399.0 -40.4 52595 52609 

 Nov 02 -32 -241751.0 -40.5 52579 52595† 

† Rate change in mid-month 

†† Rate change one day early 

*Provisional value 
- 7 -

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

The Time and Frequency Bulletin data are now online at

http://tf.nist.gov

7. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

TRACEABLE FREQUENCY CALIBRATIONS

(Now NVLAP Certified)

Laboratories can get any needed traceable frequency calibrations by subscribing to the NIST Frequency

Measurement and Analysis Service. This service is offered on a lease basis by NIST to provide an easy and inexpensive 

means to obtain traceability of a laboratory frequency standard and, in addition, to calibrate other devices in the lab. This 

service has been designed for ease of operation and as a practical calibration tool.

All necessary hardware and software is provided by NIST. Users must provide their own oscillator(s) and an 

ordinary telephone line so that NIST can access the system by modem. A maximum total of five oscillators can be calibrated 

at the same time. Radio signals from GPS satellites are used and the measurement uncertainty is 

±2 x 10-13 per day. Any frequency from 1 Hz to 120 MHz (in 1 Hz increments) can be measured.

The calibration data are displayed in color, and a graph is plotted daily for each oscillator. Data are also stored on 

disk. The user can call up any of the data and view them onscreen or in the form of plots. Up to 5 months of data can be 

plotted on one graph.

The system plots are easy to read and understand. The system manual is written clearly and the NIST staff are

available by telephone to assist. The modem connection allows NIST to access the data and to prepare a monthly traceability 

report, which is mailed to the user.

Frequency sources of any accuracy can be calibrated. The FMAS is particularly useful at the highest levels of 

performance. This is because each user of the system contributes information and calibration data for the others. If an 

uncertainty arises, it is possible for NIST to call by modem to another user nearby. In this way problems in data interpretation 

can be resolved.

NVLAP certification requirements for frequency measurement are met by following the NIST-FMAS operating 

manual. This service does not eliminate the NVLAP audits but, when installed and operated per the NIST guidelines, audit 

requirements are easily met.

NIST retains title to the equipment and supplies. All necessary replacement parts are replaced by overnight

shipment. Training for use of the system is available if requested by the user.

The NIST Frequency Measurement and Analysis Service provides a complete solution to nearly all frequency 

measurement and calibration problems. For a free information package, please phone Michael Lombardi at (303) 497-3212,

or E-mail him at lombardi@boulder.nist.gov, or write to Michael Lombardi, NIST, Division 847, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 

80305.

NOTICE TO DISCONTINUE INVOLVEMENT WITH GOES TIME CODE SERVICE

NIST has announced that it will discontinue its involvement with the time code broadcast from the GOES WEST and 

GOES EAST satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) on January 1, 2005. 

This decision has been jointly made by NIST and NOAA in response to the fact that nearly all users requiring time more 

accurate than 1 millisecond now use the Global Positioning System (GPS), and as a result, commercial sources for 

GOES timing receivers no longer exist.

NOAA is expected to continue to provide a GOES time code indefinitely after January 1, 2005, and existing receivers 

should be able to continue to receive and decode the time signal. However, the time code will no longer be controlled 

and checked by NIST, and the received time is expected to be less accurate when NIST discontinues its involvement. 

The GOES satellites currently broadcast continuously updated position information in addition to the time, so that GOES 

receivers can automatically correct for path delay changes caused by satellite motion. This allows the current system to 

have a time uncertainty of less than 100 microseconds. NOAA is expected to continuously broadcast a fixed position 

from the satellites, which could increase the time uncertainty to 1 millisecond or more. 

The GOES time broadcasts began in 1974 and have served many applications and thousands of users. NIST will 

continue to control and monitor the time code through January 1, 2005 to allow users who require a high accuracy 

signal sufficient time to replace their existing receivers. If you have additional questions, please contact Michael 

Lombardi, 303-497-3212, or email lombardi@boulder.nist.gov.