NISTIR 8104-10

NIST Time and Frequency Bulletin

Karen Hansen Lichtfuss, Editor

This publication is available free of charge from: 

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10
NISTIR 8104-10

NIST Time and Frequency Bulletin

Karen Hansen Lichtfuss, Editor

Time and Frequency Division

Physical Measurement Laboratory

This publication is available free of charge from: 

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10

October 2016

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Willie May, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director 
1

NIST TIME AND FREQUENCY BULLETIN

NIST IR 8104-10

No. 707 October 2016

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

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

3. BROADCAST OUTAGES OVER FIVE MINUTES AND WWVB

 PHASE PERTURBATIONS..................................................................................................................... 4

4. NOTES ON NIST TIME SCALES AND PRIMARY STANDARDS .......................................................... 4

5. UTC (NIST) – AT1 PARAMETERS ..........................................................................................................5

This bulletin is published monthly. Address correspondence to: 

Karen Hansen Lichtfuss, Editor 

Time and Frequency Division 

National Institute of Standards and Technology

325 Broadway 

Boulder, CO 8O3O5-3328 

(3O3) 497-3295

Email: karen.hansenlichtfuss@nist.gov

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Penny Pritzker, Secretary

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, Willie May, Under Secretary of 

Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10
2

1. GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS BULLETIN

ACTS - Automated Computer Time Service

BIPM - Bureau International des Poids et Mesures

GPS - Global Positioning System

IERS - International Earth Rotation Service

MC - Master Clock

MJD - Modified Julian Date

NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology 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

UT1 - Universal Time (Astronomical)

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

September

2016

MJD UT1-UTC(NIST)

 (±5 ms)

UTC(USNO,MC) - UTC(NIST)

 (±20 ns)

1 57632 - 246 ms - 1.8 ns

8 57639 - 252 ms 0.8 ns

15 57646 - 258 ms 1.0 ns

22 57653 - 267 ms 0.8 ns

29 57660 - 276 ms 2.7 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 period of rotation. 

 NOTE: A positive leap second will be added at the end of December 2016.

 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 time scale on 30 June 1972, 1981-1983, 1985, 1992-1994, 1997, 2012, 2015 and on 31 

December 1972-1979, 1987, 1989, 1990,1995, 1998, 2005, 2008. 

 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 the received UTC time signals in order to 

obtain UT1. 

DUT1 = UT1 - UTC =

-0.3 s beginning 0000 UTC 01 September, 2016

-0.1 s beginning 0000 UTC 24 March 2016

+0.0 s beginning 0000 UTC 31 January 2016

+0.1 s beginning 0000 UTC 26 November 2015

+0.2 s beginning 0000 UTC 11 September 2015

+0.3 s beginning 0000 UTC 01 July 2015

-0.7 s beginning 0000 UTC 28 May 2015

-0.6 s beginning 0000 UTC 19 March 2015

-0.5 s beginning 0000 UTC 25 December 2014

-0.4 s beginning 0000 UTC 25 September 2014

-0.3 s beginning 0000 UTC 08 May 2014

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10
 3

DATE MJD UTC-UTC(NIST), ns

Sep. 28, 2016 57659 4.1

Sep. 18, 2016 57649 1.3

Sep. 8,2016 57639 0.4

Aug. 29, 2016 57629 -1.6

Aug. 19, 2016 57619 -4.7

Aug. 9, 2016 57609 -4.2

Jul. 30, 2016 57599 -4.1

Jul. 20, 2016 57589 -2.0

Jul. 10, 2016 57579 -0.3

Jun. 30, 2016 57569 0.7

Jun. 20, 2016 57559 1.1

Jun. 10, 2016 57549 0.9

May 31, 2016 57539 0.4

May 21, 2016 57529 -0.3

May 11, 2016 57519 -0.6

May 1, 2016 57509 -2.0

Apr. 21, 2016 57499 -1.4

Apr. 11, 2016 57489 3.4

Apr. 1, 2016 57479 4.4

Mar. 22, 2016 57469 2.8

Mar. 12, 2016 57459 0.9

Mar. 2, 2016 57449 -0.4

Feb. 11, 2016 57439 -4.9

Feb. 11, 2016 57429 -7.6

Feb. 01, 2016 57419 -8.6

Jan. 22, 2016 57409 -7.4

Jan. 12, 2016 57399 -3.0

Jan. 02, 2016 57389 1.7

Dec. 23, 2015 57379 3.5

Dec. 13, 2015 57369 4.3

Dec. 03, 2015 57359 6.4

Nov. 23, 2015 57349 5.8

Nov. 13, 2015 57339 4.8

Nov. 3, 2015 57329 5.3

0000 Hours Coordinated Universal Time

The difference between UTC(NIST) and 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 . 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10
4

3. BROADCAST OUTAGES OVER FIVE MINUTES AND WWVB PHASE PERTURBATIONS

OUTAGES OF 5 MINUTES OR MORE PHASE PERTURBATIONS

2 ms

Station Sep 

2016

 MJD Began 

UTC

Ended 

UTC

Freq. Sep 

2016 MJD Began

UTC

End 

UTC

WWVB 09/17/16

09/15/16

09/13/16

09/13/16

57648

57646

57644

57644

0626

0147

0643

0340

0645

0233

0732

0454

60kHz

60kHz

60kHz

60kHz

None

WWV None None

WWVH None None

4. 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

and to provide the best possible realization of the SI second. NIST-F1 and NIST F-2, cold-atom cesium fountain 

frequency standards, have served as the U.S. primary standards of time and frequency since 1999. The uncertainty of 

NIST-F2 is currently about 1 part in 1016. 

 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 by use of 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. 

References:

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). 

Heavner, T.P.; Jefferts, S.R.; Donley; E.A.; Shirley, J.H. and Parker, T.E., “NIST F1; recent improvements and 

accuracy evaluations,” Metrologia, Vol. 42, pp. 411-422 (2005).

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). 

Parker, T.E.; Jefferts, S.R.; Heavner, T.P.; and Donley, E.A., “Operation of the NIST-F1 caesium fountain primary 

frequency standard with a maser ensemble, including the impact of frequency transfer noise,” Metrologia, Vol. 42, pp. 

423-430 (2005).

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). 

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This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10
 5

Month xls

(s)

x

(ns)

y

(ns/d)

 T0

(MJD)

Valid until 0000 on:

(MJD)

Sep 16 -36 -435350.9 -37.3* 57632 57662

Aug 16 -36 -434936.7 -37.65 57621 57632*

Aug 16 -36 -434191.7 -37.25 57601 57632†

Jul 16 -36 -434079.95 -37.25 57598 57601

Jul 16 -36 -433041.2 -37.1 57570 57598†

Jun 16 -36 -431923.7 -37.25 57540 57570

May 16 -36 -431476.7 -37.25 57528 57540

May 16 -36 -430771.8 -37.1 57509 57528†

Apr 16 -36 -430697.6 -37.1 57507 57509

Apr 16 -36 -429672.75 -36.5 57479 57507†

Apr 16 -36 -429672.75 -36.9 57479 57486†

Mar 16 -36 -428636.75 -37.0 57451 57479

Mar 16 -36 -428521.05 -37.3 57448 57451†

Feb 16 -36 -427816.15 -37.3 57429 57448

Feb 16 -36 -427556.45 -37.1 57422 57429†

Feb 16 -36 -427446.05 -36.8 57419 57422†

Jan 16 -36 -427014.25 -36.8 57408 57419

Jan 16 -36 -426313.25 -36.4 57388 57408†

Dec 15 -36 -426056.65 -36.7 57381 57388

Dec 15 -36 -425761.45 -36.9 57373 57381†

Dec 15 -36 -425285.65 -36.6 57360 57373†

Dec 15 -36 -425162.45 -36.9 57357 57360†

† Rate change in mid-month

*Provisional value

The table below 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 Date, 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 offsets in time and 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.

5. UTC(NIST) – AT1 PARAMETERS

UTC(NIST) - AT1 = xls + x + y*(T -T0)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

This publication is available free of charge from: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8104-10