January 2000 - tz - lists.iana.org

proposed tz changes for Argentina, Cuba, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Sonora
by Paul Eggert Jan. 11, 2000

Jan. 11, 2000

Here are some proposed changes to the tz database reflecting recent discussions on this list, plus some research and private email. Thanks to everybody who contributed. * Changes to data. - Argentina switched from UTC-3 without DST to UTC-4 with DST last spring. Wall clocks are affected starting March 5. (Thanks to Rives McDow for this info.) - Sonora stopped observing DST last year; new zone America/Hermosillo. (Thanks to Gwillim Law and Rives McDow for this info.) - Mongolia stopped observing DST last year. - New Zone Asia/Hovd for east Mongolia. - Asia/Ulaanbaatar renamed from Asia/Ulan_Bator, to reflect most popular spelling these days. Backward entry created. (Thanks to Gwillim Law, Rives McDow, and Oscar van Vlijmen for this info.) - Post-1999 Cuban DST starts the first Sunday in April, not April 1. (Thanks to Gwillim Law for this info.) - Add backward entry for GB-Eire, a Zone that was removed in 1993. (Sorry, I've forgotten who reported this problem.) - Change Hong Kong time abbreviation back to `HKT', as it's the most popular. * Changes to commentary - Update web links. Add pointers to HyperCard port, to Astrodienst for Shanks data, to NRAO for astronomical time, to JPL for spaceflight time, and to webexhibits for DST history (replacing energy.ca.gov) - Fix HTML typos in Arts.htm, found by nsgmls. - Add discussion of the International Date Line (thanks to Gwillim Law). - Update Antarctic base info. - More comments about the Nunavut time zone controversy. =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/antarctica,v retrieving revision 1999.5 retrieving revision 1999.5.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.5 -r1999.5.0.1 --- antarctica 1999/08/17 18:42:13 1999.5 +++ antarctica 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.5.0.1 @@ -1,9 +1,9 @@ # @(#)antarctica 7.16 -# From Paul Eggert (1999-03-22): +# From Paul Eggert (1999-11-15): # To keep things manageable, we list only locations occupied year-round; see -# <a href="http://www.delm.tas.gov.au/comnap/members.html"> -# Antarctic Activities of Member Nations of the Antarctic Treaty (1996-05-24) +# <a href="http://www.comnap.aq/comnap/comnap.nsf/P/Stations/"> +# COMNAP - Stations and Bases # </a> # and # <a href="http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/bob/periant.htm"> @@ -35,18 +35,24 @@ Rule ChileAQ 1999 max - Oct Sun>=9 0:00 Rule ChileAQ 2000 max - Mar Sun>=9 0:00 0 - -# Argentina - 6 year-round bases -# General Belgrano II -# 5 others +# Argentina - year-round bases +# Belgrano II, Confin Coast, -770227-0343737, since 1972-02-05 +# Esperanza, San Martin Land, -6323-05659, since 1952-12-17 +# Jubany, Potter Peninsula, King George Island, -6414-0602320, since 1982-01 +# Marambio, Seymour I, -6414-05637, since 1969-10-29 +# Orcadas, Laurie I, -6016-04444, since 1904-02-22 +# San Martin, Debenham I, -6807-06708, since 1951-03-21 +# (except 1960-03 / 1976-03-21) # Australia - territories # Heard Island, McDonald Islands (uninhabited) # previously sealers and scientific personnel wintered # # year-round bases -# Casey, Bailey Peninsula, since 1969 -# Davis, Vestfold Hills, since 1957-01-13 (except 1964-11 - 1969-02) -# Mawson, Holme Bay, since 1954-02-13 +# Casey, Bailey Peninsula, -6617+11032, since 1969 +# Davis, Vestfold Hills, -6835+07759, since 1957-01-13 +# (except 1964-11 - 1969-02) +# Mawson, Holme Bay, -6736+06253, since 1954-02-13 # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] Zone Antarctica/Casey 0 - ___ 1969 8:00 - WST # Western (Aus) Standard Time @@ -70,15 +76,16 @@ Zone Antarctica/Mawson 0 - ___ 1954 Feb # Brazil - year-round base # Ferraz, King George Island, since 1983/4 -# Chile - 4 year-round bases +# Chile - year-round bases +# Escudero, South Shetland Is, -621157-0585735, since 1994 +# Frei, King George Is, -6214-05848, since 1969 +# O'Higgins, Antarctic Peninsula, -6319-05704, since 1948-02 +# Prat, -6230-05941 # China - year-round bases # Great Wall, King George Island, since 1985-02-20 # Zhongshan, Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay, since 1989-02-26 -# Finland - year-round base -# Aboa, Queen Maud Land, since 1988 - # France - year-round bases # # From Antoine Leca <Antoine.Leca(a)Renault.FR> (1997-01-20): @@ -103,7 +110,7 @@ Zone Indian/Kerguelen 0 - ___ 1950 # Por 5:00 - TFT # ISO code TF Time # # year-round base in the main continent -# Dumont-d'Urville, Terre Adelie (Adelie Land), -6640+14001, since 1956-11 +# Dumont-d'Urville, Ile des Petrels, -6640+14001, since 1956-11 # # Another base at Port-Martin, 50km east, began operation in 1947. # It was destroyed by fire on 1952-01-14. @@ -172,11 +179,11 @@ Rule NZAQ 1990 max - Mar Sun>=15 2:00s 0 # Peter I Island (never inhabited) # Poland - year-round base -# Arctowski, King George Island, since 1977 +# Arctowski, King George Island, -620945-0582745, since 1977 # Russia - year-round bases -# Bellingshausen, King George Island -# Mirny +# Bellingshausen, King George Island, -621159-0585337, since 1968-02-22 +# Mirny, Davis coast, -6633+09301, since 1956-02 # Molodezhnaya # Novolazarevskaya # Vostok @@ -198,11 +205,12 @@ Rule NZAQ 1990 max - Mar Sun>=15 2:00s 0 # and a garrison was deployed briefly # # year-round bases +# Bird Island, South Georgia, -5400-03803, since 1983 # Halley, Coates Land, -7535-2619, since 1956-01-06 # Rothera, Adelaide Island, -6734-6808, since 1976-12-01 # Uruguay - year round base -# Artigas, King George Island +# Artigas, King George Island, -9621104-0585107 # USA - year-round bases # =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/Arts.htm,v retrieving revision 7.27 retrieving revision 7.27.0.1 diff -pu -r7.27 -r7.27.0.1 --- Arts.htm 1999/11/15 23:43:22 7.27 +++ Arts.htm 2000/01/11 07:46:46 7.27.0.1 @@ -5,11 +5,9 @@ </HEAD> <BODY> <H1>Time and the Arts</H1> -<P> <H6> @(#)Arts.htm 7.27 </H6> -</P> <PRE> "Is that a pertinent fact, or are you trying to dazzle me with your command of time zones?" @@ -30,7 +28,7 @@ Personnel: Karrin Allyson, vocal Notes: CD notes "additional lyric by Karrin Allyson; arranged by Russ Long and Karrin Allyson" ADO Rating: 1 star -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A175928">AMG Rating: 4 stars</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A175928">AMG Rating: 4 stars</A> Penguin Rating: 3.5 stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Kevin Mahogany @@ -45,7 +43,7 @@ Personnel: Kevin Mahogany, vocal Ralph Moore, tenor saxophone Lewis Nash, drums ADO Rating: 1.5 stars -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A262654">AMG Rating: 3 stars</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A262654">AMG Rating: 3 stars</A> Penguin Rating: 3 stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Joe Williams @@ -59,7 +57,7 @@ Personnel: Joe Williams, vocal Notes: This CD is also available as part of a 3-CD package from Telarc, "Triple Play" (CD-83461) ADO Rating: black dot -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A194434">AMG Rating: 2 stars</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A194434">AMG Rating: 2 stars</A> Penguin Rating: 3 stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Charles Fambrough @@ -76,7 +74,7 @@ Personnel: Charles Fambrough, bass Notes: On-line information and samples available at <A HREF="http://wwmusic.com/~music/audioq/rel/1033.html">http://wwmusic.com/~music/audioq/rel/1033.html</A> ADO Rating: 2 stars -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A224430">AMG Rating: unrated</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A224430">AMG Rating: unrated</A> Penguin Rating: 3 stars ========================================================================== Also of note: @@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ Personnel: Holly Cole, voice Notes: Lyrical reference to "Eastern Standard Time" in Tom Waits' "Purple Avenue" ADO Rating: 2.5 stars -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A157959">AMG Rating: 3 stars</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A157959">AMG Rating: 3 stars</A> Penguin Rating: unrated -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Milt Hinton @@ -124,7 +122,7 @@ Notes: tunes include Old Man Time, Time On-line samples available at <A HREF="http://www.globalmusic.com/labels/chiaroscuro/chiaro_cd_gallery.html">http://www.globalmusic.com/labels/chiaroscuro/chiaro_cd_gallery.html</A> ADO Rating: 3 stars -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A162344">AMG Rating: 4.5 stars</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A162344">AMG Rating: 4.5 stars</A> Penguin Rating: 3 stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Paul Broadbent @@ -138,7 +136,7 @@ Personnel: Paul Broadbent, piano Frank Gibson, Jr., drums Notes: The CD cover features an analemma for equation-of-time fans ADO Rating: 1 star -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A223722">AMG Rating: 4 stars</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A223722">AMG Rating: 4 stars</A> Penguin Rating: 3.5 stars -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Anthony Braxton/Richard Teitelbaum @@ -153,7 +151,7 @@ Personnel: Anthony Braxton, sporanino an Leroy Jenkins, violin and miscellaneous instruments Richard Teitelbaum, modular moog and micromoog synthesizer ADO Rating: black dot -<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A310757">AMG Rating: unrated</A> +<A HREF="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=A310757">AMG Rating: unrated</A> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist: Jules Verne Book: Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/asia,v retrieving revision 1999.10 retrieving revision 1999.10.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.10 -r1999.10.0.1 --- asia 1999/11/13 19:27:44 1999.10 +++ asia 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.10.0.1 @@ -84,8 +84,7 @@ Zone Asia/Kabul 4:36:48 - LMT 1890 # <edd(a)AIC.NET> reported (1996-05-04) that Yerevan probably wouldn't use DST # in 1996, though it did use DST in 1995. IATA SSIM (1991/1998) reports that # Armenia switched from 3:00 to 4:00 in 1998 and observed DST after 1991, -# but started switching at 3:00s in 1998. IATA SSIM (1999-02) reports -# that they switch one day later in 2001 (i.e. on Mondays). +# but started switching at 3:00s in 1998. # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] Zone Asia/Yerevan 2:58:00 - LMT 1924 May 2 3:00 - YERT 1957 Mar # Yerevan Time @@ -235,8 +234,7 @@ Rule HK 1979 1980 - May Sun>=8 3:30 1:00 Rule HK 1979 1980 - Oct Sun>=16 3:30 0 - # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] Zone Asia/Hong_Kong 7:36:36 - LMT 1904 Oct 30 - 8:00 HK HK%sT 1997 Jul 1 # return to China - 8:00 PRC C%sT + 8:00 HK HK%sT ############################################################################### @@ -853,31 +851,62 @@ Zone Indian/Maldives 4:54:00 - LMT 1880 5:00 - MVT # Maldives Time # Mongolia + # Shanks says that Mongolia has three time zones, but usno1995 and the CIA map # Standard Time Zones of the World (1997-01) # both say that it has just one. -# Let's comment out the western and eastern Mongolian time zones -# till we know what their principal towns are. + +# From Oscar van Vlijmen (1999-12-11): +# <a href="http://www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn/general.htm"> +# General Information Mongolia +# </a> (1999-09) +# "Time: Mongolia has two time zones. Three westernmost provinces of +# Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, and Hovd are one hour earlier than the capital city, and +# the rest of the country follows the Ulaanbaatar time, which is UTC/GMT plus +# eight hours." + +# From Rives McDow (1999-12-13): +# Mongolia discontinued the use of daylight savings time in 1999; 1998 +# being the last year it was implemented. The dates of implementation I am +# unsure of, but most probably it was similar to Russia, except for the time +# of implementation may have been different.... +# Some maps in the past have indicated that there was an additional time +# zone in the eastern part of Mongolia, including the provinces of Dornod, +# Suhbaatar, and possibly Khentij. + +# From Paul Eggert (1999-12-15): +# For now, we'll comment out the east zone (Choybalsan) +# and use Shanks's and the IATA's data for the daylight-saving rules. +# Naming and spelling is tricky in Mongolia. +# We'll use Hovd (also spelled Chovd and Khovd) to represent the west zone; +# the capital of the Hovd province is sometimes called Hovd, sometimes Dund-Us, +# and sometimes Jirgalanta (with variant spellings), but the name Hovd +# is good enough for our purposes. + # Rule NAME FROM TO TYPE IN ON AT SAVE LETTER/S Rule Mongol 1981 1984 - Apr 1 0:00 1:00 S Rule Mongol 1981 1984 - Oct 1 0:00 0 - Rule Mongol 1985 1990 - Mar lastSun 2:00 1:00 S Rule Mongol 1985 1990 - Sep lastSun 3:00 0 - -Rule Mongol 1991 max - Mar lastSun 0:00 1:00 S +Rule Mongol 1991 1998 - Mar lastSun 0:00 1:00 S Rule Mongol 1991 1995 - Sep lastSun 0:00 0 - # IATA SSIM (1996-09) says 1996-10-25; go with Shanks. Rule Mongol 1996 only - Oct lastSun 0:00 0 - -Rule Mongol 1997 max - Sep lastSun 0:00 0 - +Rule Mongol 1997 1998 - Sep lastSun 0:00 0 - +# IATA SSIM (1999-09) says Mongolia no longer observes DST. + # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] -#Zone Asia/Dariv 6:14:32 - LMT 1905 Aug -# 6:00 - DART 1978 # Dariv Time -# 7:00 Mongol DAR%sT -Zone Asia/Ulan_Bator 7:07:32 - LMT 1905 Aug - 7:00 - ULAT 1978 # Ulan Bator Time +Zone Asia/Hovd 6:06:36 - LMT 1905 Aug + 6:00 - HOVT 1978 # Hovd Time + 7:00 Mongol HOV%sT +Zone Asia/Ulaanbaatar 7:07:32 - LMT 1905 Aug + 7:00 - ULAT 1978 # Ulaanbaatar Time 8:00 Mongol ULA%sT -#Zone Asia/Baruun-Urt 7:33:00 - LMT 1905 Aug -# 8:00 - BART 1978 # Baruun-Urt Time -# 9:00 Mongol BAR%sT +# We're not sure about this entry yet, so we'll omit it for now. +#Zone Asia/Choybalsan 7:38:00 - LMT 1905 Aug +# 8:00 - CHOT 1978 # Choybalsan Time +# 9:00 Mongol CHO%sT 19?? +# 8:00 Mongol ULA%sT # Nepal # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] @@ -1097,7 +1126,8 @@ Rule Syria 1993 only - Mar 26 0:00 1:00 Rule Syria 1993 only - Sep 25 0:00 0 - # IATA SSIM (1998-02) says 1998-04-02; # (1998-09) says 1999-03-29 and 1999-09-29; (1999-02) says 1999-04-02, -# 2000-04-02, and 2001-04-02; ignore all these claims and go with Shanks. +# 2000-04-02, and 2001-04-02; (1999-09) says 2000-03-31 and 2001-03-31; +# ignore all these claims and go with Shanks. Rule Syria 1994 1996 - Apr 1 0:00 1:00 S Rule Syria 1994 max - Oct 1 0:00 0 - Rule Syria 1997 1998 - Mar lastMon 0:00 1:00 S =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/australasia,v retrieving revision 1999.10 retrieving revision 1999.10.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.10 -r1999.10.0.1 --- australasia 1999/11/13 19:27:44 1999.10 +++ australasia 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.10.0.1 @@ -177,9 +177,6 @@ Zone Australia/Lord_Howe 10:36:20 - LMT # The Australian Bureau of Meteorology FAQ # </a> (1999-09-27) writes that Macquarie Island follows Tasmanian practice # irrespective of any local use of DST. This is unclear; ignore it for now. -# -# Manihiki, Penrhyn, Rakehanga -# no information # Christmas # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] @@ -348,7 +345,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Norfolk 11:11:52 - LMT 1901 11:12 - NMT 1951 # Norfolk Mean Time 11:30 - NFT # Norfolk Time -# Palau +# Palau (Belau) # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] Zone Pacific/Palau 8:57:56 - LMT 1901 # Koror 9:00 - PWT # Palau Time @@ -854,8 +851,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 ############################################################################### -# New Zealand, from Elz' asia 1.1 -# Elz says "no guarantees" +# New Zealand # From Mark Davies (1990-10-03): # the 1989/90 year was a trial of an extended "daylight saving" period. @@ -896,6 +892,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 ############################################################################### + # Fiji # Howse writes (p 153) that in 1879 the British governor of Fiji @@ -907,6 +904,9 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # until 0300 local time 1999-02-28. Each year the DST period will # be from the first Sunday in November until the last Sunday in February. +# From Paul Eggert (2000-01-08): +# IATA SSIM (1999-09) says DST ends 0100 local time. Go with McDow. + # From the BBC World Service (1998-10-31 11:32 UTC): # The Fijiian government says the main reasons for the time change is to # improve productivity and reduce road accidents. But correspondents say it @@ -914,10 +914,12 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # islands in the effort to attract tourists to witness the dawning of the new # millenium. + # Johnston # Johnston data is from usno1995. + # Kiribati # From Paul Eggert (1996-01-22): @@ -925,6 +927,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # ``declared it the same day throught the country as of Jan. 1, 1995'' # as part of the competition to be first into the 21st century. + # Kwajalein # In comp.risks 14.87 (26 August 1993), Peter Neumann writes: @@ -933,6 +936,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # respect to the International Date Line, to rejoin its fellow islands, # going from 11:59 p.m. Thursday to 12:00 m. Saturday in a blink. + # N Mariana Is, Guam # Howse writes (p 153) ``The Spaniards, on the other hand, reached the @@ -940,6 +944,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # (now called the Marianas) kept American date for quite some time. # Ignore this for now, as we have no hard data. See also Asia/Manila. + # Micronesia # Alan Eugene Davis <adavis(a)kuentos.guam.net> writes (1996-03-16), @@ -957,6 +962,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # that Truk and Yap are UTC+10, and Ponape and Kosrae are UTC+11. # We don't know when Kosrae switched from UTC+12; assume January 1 for now. + # Pitcairn # From Rives McDow (1999-11-08): @@ -980,6 +986,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # Pacific Standard Time. They used to be 1/2 hour different from us here in # Sacramento but it was changed a couple of years ago. + # Samoa # Howse writes (p 153, citing p 10 of the 1883-11-18 New York Herald) @@ -988,6 +995,7 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # ordaining -- by a masterpiece of diplomatic flattery -- that # the Fourth of July should be celebrated twice in that year.'' + # Tonga # From Paul Eggert (1996-01-22): @@ -1057,3 +1065,31 @@ Zone Pacific/Wallis 12:15:20 - LMT 1901 # From Rives McDow (1999-10-06): # Tonga started its Daylight Saving on Saturday morning October 2nd at 0200am. # Daylight Saving ends on April 16 at 0300am which is Sunday morning. + + +############################################################################### + +# The International Date Line + +# From Gwillim Law (2000-01-03): +# +# The International Date Line is not defined by any international standard, +# convention, or treaty. Mapmakers are free to draw it as they please. +# Reputable mapmakers will simply ensure that every point of land appears on +# the correct side of the IDL, according to the date legally observed there. +# +# When Kiribati adopted a uniform date in 1995, thereby moving the Phoenix and +# Line Islands to the west side of the IDL (or, if you prefer, moving the IDL +# to the east side of the Phoenix and Line Islands), I suppose that most +# mapmakers redrew the IDL following the boundary of Kiribati. Even that line +# has a rather arbitrary nature. The straight-line boundaries between Pacific +# island nations that are shown on many maps are based on an international +# convention, but are not legally binding national borders. +# +# An Anglo-French Conference on Time-Keeping at Sea (June, 1917) agreed that +# legal time on the high seas would be zone time, i.e., the standard time at +# the nearest meridian that is a multiple of fifteen degrees. The date is +# governed by the IDL; therefore, even on the high seas, there may be some +# places as late as fourteen hours later than UTC. And, since the IDL is not +# an international standard, there are some places on the high seas where the +# correct date is ambiguous. =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/backward,v retrieving revision 1998.9 retrieving revision 1998.9.0.1 diff -pu -r1998.9 -r1998.9.0.1 --- backward 1999/11/08 22:27:22 1998.9 +++ backward 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1998.9.0.1 @@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Link America/Indianapolis America/Fort_W Link America/Indiana/Knox America/Knox_IN Link America/St_Thomas America/Virgin Link Asia/Jerusalem Asia/Tel_Aviv +Link Asia/Ulaanbaatar Asia/Ulan_Bator Link Australia/Sydney Australia/ACT Link Australia/Sydney Australia/Canberra Link Australia/Lord_Howe Australia/LHI @@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ Link America/Havana Cuba Link Africa/Cairo Egypt Link Europe/Dublin Eire Link Europe/London GB +Link Europe/London GB-Eire Link Etc/GMT+0 GMT+0 Link Etc/GMT-0 GMT-0 Link Etc/GMT0 GMT0 =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/northamerica,v retrieving revision 1999.10 retrieving revision 1999.10.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.10 -r1999.10.0.1 --- northamerica 1999/11/13 19:27:45 1999.10 +++ northamerica 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.10.0.1 @@ -952,6 +952,14 @@ Zone America/Dawson_Creek -8:00:56 - LMT # their senses", but the locals evidently don't see any problem with # the current state of affairs. +# From Michaela Rodrigue, writing in the +# <a href="http://www.nunatsiaq.com/archives/nunavut991130/nvt91119_17.html"> +# Nunatsiaq News (1999-11-19)</a>: +# Clyde River, Pangnirtung and Sanikiluaq now operate with two time zones, +# central - or Nunavut time - for government offices, and eastern time +# for municipal offices and schools.... Igloolik [was similar but then] +# made the switch to central time on Saturday, Nov. 6. + # Rule NAME FROM TO TYPE IN ON AT SAVE LETTER/S Rule NT_YK 1918 only - Apr 14 2:00 1:00 D Rule NT_YK 1918 only - Oct 27 2:00 0 S @@ -1079,6 +1087,12 @@ Zone America/Dawson -9:17:40 - LMT 1900 # The State of Quintana Roo has reverted back to central STD and DST times # (i.e. UTC -0600 and -0500 as of 1998-08-02). +# From Rives McDow (2000-01-10): +# Effective April 4, 1999 at 2:00 AM local time, Sonora changed to the time +# zone 5 hours from the International Date Line, and will not observe daylight +# savings time so as to stay on the same time zone as the southern part of +# Arizona year round. + # From Shanks: # Rule NAME FROM TO TYPE IN ON AT SAVE LETTER/S Rule Mexico 1939 only - Feb 5 0:00 1:00 D @@ -1120,7 +1134,19 @@ Zone America/Chihuahua -7:04:20 - LMT 19 -6:00 Mexico C%sT 1998 -6:00 - CST 1998 Apr Sun>=1 3:00 -7:00 Mexico M%sT -# S Baja California, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora +# Sonora +Zone America/Hermosillo -7:23:52 - LMT 1921 Dec 31 23:36:08 + -7:00 - MST 1927 Jun 10 23:00 + -6:00 - CST 1930 Nov 15 + -7:00 - MST 1931 May 1 23:00 + -6:00 - CST 1931 Oct + -7:00 - MST 1932 Mar 30 23:00 + -6:00 - CST 1942 Apr + -7:00 - MST 1949 Jan 14 + -8:00 - PST 1970 + -7:00 Mexico M%sT 1999 + -7:00 - MST +# S Baja California, Nayarit, Sinaloa Zone America/Mazatlan -7:05:40 - LMT 1921 Dec 31 23:54:20 -7:00 - MST 1927 Jun 10 23:00 -6:00 - CST 1930 Nov 15 @@ -1261,7 +1287,7 @@ Rule Cuba 1996 only - Oct 6 0:00s 0 S Rule Cuba 1997 only - Oct 12 0:00s 0 S Rule Cuba 1998 1999 - Mar lastSun 0:00s 1:00 D Rule Cuba 1998 max - Oct lastSun 0:00s 0 S -Rule Cuba 2000 max - Apr 1 0:00s 1:00 D +Rule Cuba 2000 max - Apr Sun>=1 0:00s 1:00 D # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] Zone America/Havana -5:29:28 - LMT 1890 =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/southamerica,v retrieving revision 1999.10 retrieving revision 1999.10.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.10 -r1999.10.0.1 --- southamerica 1999/11/13 19:27:45 1999.10 +++ southamerica 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.10.0.1 @@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ Rule Arg 1963 only - Dec 15 0:00 1:00 S Rule Arg 1964 1966 - Mar 1 0:00 0 - Rule Arg 1964 1966 - Oct 15 0:00 1:00 S Rule Arg 1967 only - Apr 1 0:00 0 - -Rule Arg 1967 1968 - Oct Sun<=7 0:00 1:00 S -Rule Arg 1968 1969 - Apr Sun<=7 0:00 0 - +Rule Arg 1967 1968 - Oct Sun>=1 0:00 1:00 S +Rule Arg 1968 1969 - Apr Sun>=1 0:00 0 - Rule Arg 1974 only - Jan 23 0:00 1:00 S Rule Arg 1974 only - May 1 0:00 0 - -Rule Arg 1974 1976 - Oct Sun<=7 0:00 1:00 S -Rule Arg 1975 1977 - Apr Sun<=7 0:00 0 - +Rule Arg 1974 1976 - Oct Sun>=1 0:00 1:00 S +Rule Arg 1975 1977 - Apr Sun>=1 0:00 0 - Rule Arg 1985 only - Nov 2 0:00 1:00 S Rule Arg 1986 only - Mar 14 0:00 0 - Rule Arg 1986 1987 - Oct 25 0:00 1:00 S @@ -108,6 +108,15 @@ Rule Arg 1989 1992 - Oct Sun>=15 0:00 1: # time corrections was derogated and no more modifications # to the time zones (for daylight saving) are now made. # +# From Rives McDow (2000-01-10): +# On October 3, 1999, 0:00 local, Argentina implemented daylight savings time, +# which did not result in the switch of a time zone, as they stayed 9 hours +# from the International Date Line. On March 5, 2000, at 0:00 local time, +# Argentina will come off daylight savings time, which will bring them to 8 +# hours from the International Date Line. +Rule Arg 1999 max - Oct Sun>=1 0:00 1:00 S +Rule Arg 2000 max - Mar Sun>=1 0:00 0 - +# # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] # # Buenos Aires (BA), Distrito Federal (DF), Santa Cruz (SC), @@ -115,26 +124,29 @@ Rule Arg 1989 1992 - Oct Sun>=15 0:00 1: Zone America/Buenos_Aires -3:53:48 - LMT 1894 Nov -4:16:44 - CMT 1920 May # Cordoba Mean Time -4:00 - ART 1930 Dec - -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 - -3:00 Arg AR%sT + -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 + -3:00 Arg AR%sT 1999 Oct 3 0:00 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT # # Santa Fe (SF), Entre Rios (ER), Corrientes (CN), Misiones (MN), Chaco (CC), # Formosa (FM), La Pampa (LP), Chubut (CH) Zone America/Rosario -4:02:40 - LMT 1894 Nov -4:16:44 - CMT 1920 May -4:00 - ART 1930 Dec - -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 -3:00 Arg AR%sT 1991 Jul - -3:00 - ART + -3:00 - ART 1999 Oct 3 0:00 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT # # Cordoba (CB), Santiago del Estero (SE), Salta (SA), Tucuman (TM), La Rioja (LR), San Juan (SJ), San Luis (SL), # Neuquen (NQ), Rio Negro (RN) Zone America/Cordoba -4:16:44 - LMT 1894 Nov -4:16:44 - CMT 1920 May -4:00 - ART 1930 Dec - -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 -3:00 Arg AR%sT 1990 Jul - -3:00 - ART + -3:00 - ART 1999 Oct 3 0:00 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT # # Jujuy (JY) Zone America/Jujuy -4:21:12 - LMT 1894 Nov @@ -145,17 +157,19 @@ Zone America/Jujuy -4:21:12 - LMT 1894 N -4:00 - WART 1991 Oct 6 -4:00 1:00 WARST 1992 Mar 15 -4:00 - WART 1992 Oct 18 - -3:00 - ART + -3:00 - ART 1999 Oct 3 0:00 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT # # Catamarca (CT) Zone America/Catamarca -4:23:08 - LMT 1894 Nov -4:16:44 - CMT 1920 May -4:00 - ART 1930 Dec - -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT 1969 Oct 5 -3:00 Arg AR%sT 1990 Jul -3:00 - ART 1991 Jul -3:00 Arg AR%sT 1992 Jul - -3:00 - ART + -3:00 - ART 1999 Oct 3 0:00 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT # # Mendoza (MZ) Zone America/Mendoza -4:35:16 - LMT 1894 Nov @@ -166,7 +180,8 @@ Zone America/Mendoza -4:35:16 - LMT 1894 -4:00 - WART 1991 Oct 15 -4:00 1:00 WARST 1992 Mar 1 -4:00 - WART 1992 Oct 18 - -3:00 - ART + -3:00 - ART 1999 Oct 3 0:00 + -4:00 Arg AR%sT # Aruba # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] @@ -411,7 +426,7 @@ Zone America/Porto_Acre -4:31:12 - LMT 1 -5:00 Brazil AC%sT 1988 Sep 12 -5:00 - ACT # -# Martin Vaz and Trinidade are like America/Noronha. +# Martin Vaz and Trindade are like America/Noronha. # Chile @@ -545,7 +560,8 @@ Rule Para 1996 only - Mar 1 0:00 0 - Rule Para 1997 only - Feb lastSun 0:00 0 - Rule Para 1998 only - Mar 1 0:00 0 - Rule Para 1996 max - Oct Sun>=1 0:00 1:00 S -# IATA SSIM (1999-02) says lastSat, not lastSun; go with Shanks. +# IATA SSIM (1999-02) says lastSat, not lastSun; (1999-09) reports no date; +# go with Shanks. Rule Para 1999 max - Feb lastSun 0:00 0 - # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT [UNTIL] Zone America/Asuncion -3:50:40 - LMT 1890 =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/WWW.htm,v retrieving revision 1999.10 retrieving revision 1999.10.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.10 -r1999.10.0.1 --- WWW.htm 1999/11/13 19:27:44 1999.10 +++ WWW.htm 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.10.0.1 @@ -37,6 +37,16 @@ Here are some recent links that may be o <LI><A HREF="http://www.bsdi.com/date/">Date and Time Gateway</A> is a text-based source for tables of current time throughout the world. Its point-and-click interface accesses a recent version of the tz data. +<LI><A +HREF="http://www1.tip.nl/~t876506/AboutTimeZonesHC.html">HyperCard +time zones calculator</A> is a <A +HREF="http://www.apple.com/hypercard/">HyperCard</A> interface to a +recent version of the tz data. +<LI><A HREF="http://www.astro.ch/atlas/">Astrology / Astrologie -> +Astrodienst Atlas Database</A> is Astrodienst's Web version of <A +HREF="http://www.astrocom.com/books/xrefa.htm#SHANKS">Shanks's +excellent time zone history atlases</A> published by <A +HREF="http://www.astrocom.com/">Astro Communications Services</A>. <LI><A HREF="http://worldtime.com/">WORLDTIME: interactive atlas, time info, public holidays</A> contains information on local time, sunrise and sunset, @@ -62,7 +72,7 @@ and parts of the data are a few years ou has several fancy time zone maps; it covers Russia particularly well. The maps' pictorial quality is not quite as good as the CIA's and (as usual with maps) the maps are not quite up to date. -<LI><A HREF="http://pisolo.cstv.to.cnr.it/toi/uk/toi.html">The +<LI><A HREF="http://www.cstv.to.cnr.it/toi/uk/toi.html">The Time of Internet</A> contains good descriptions of Time Zones and daylight saving time, with diagrams. @@ -70,9 +80,16 @@ The time zone map is out of date, howeve <LI><A HREF="http://ecco.bsee.swin.edu.au/chronos/GMT-explained.html">A Few Facts Concerning GMT, UT, and the RGO</A> answers questions like ``What is the difference between GMT and UTC?'' -<LI><A HREF="http://energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html">Daylight -Saving Time -- Saving Time, Saving Energy</A> -is a history of DST in the US. +<LI><A +HREF="http://sadira.gb.nrao.edu/~rfisher/Ephemerides/times.html">Astronomical +Times</A> explains more abstruse astronomical time scales like TT, TCG, +and TDB. +<LI><A HREF="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf2-3.htm">Earth +and Its Reference Systems</A> +briefly explains interplanetary space flight timekeeping. +<LI><A HREF="http://www.webexhibits.com/daylightsaving/">Daylight +Saving Time -- History, rationale, laws and dates</A> +is a good history of DST. <LI><A HREF="http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Measurements_and_Units/Time/Time_Zones/">Yahoo! - Science:Measurements and Units:Time:Time Zones</A> is where the famous Internet indexing service Yahoo! collects its time zone info. @@ -87,7 +104,7 @@ when leap seconds occur. </UL> <P> -- <A HREF="mailto:eggert@twinsun.com">eggert(a)twinsun.com</A> -(1999-03-22) +(2000-01-10) </P> <H2>Arthur David Olson writes:</H2><P> A good source of information about =================================================================== RCS file: RCS/zone.tab,v retrieving revision 1999.10 retrieving revision 1999.10.0.1 diff -pu -r1999.10 -r1999.10.0.1 --- zone.tab 1999/11/13 19:27:45 1999.10 +++ zone.tab 2000/01/11 07:46:46 1999.10.0.1 @@ -234,7 +234,8 @@ MK +4159+02126 Europe/Skopje ML +1239-00800 Africa/Bamako southwest Mali ML +1446-00301 Africa/Timbuktu northeast Mali MM +1647+09610 Asia/Rangoon -MN +4755+10653 Asia/Ulan_Bator +MN +4755+10653 Asia/Ulaanbaatar most locations +MN +4801+09139 Asia/Hovd Bayan-Olgiy, Hovd, Uvs MO +2214+11335 Asia/Macao MP +1512+14545 Pacific/Saipan MQ +1436-06105 America/Martinique @@ -246,8 +247,9 @@ MV +0410+07330 Indian/Maldives MW -1547+03500 Africa/Blantyre MX +1924-09909 America/Mexico_City Central Time - most locations MX +2105-08646 America/Cancun Central Time - Quintana Roo -MX +2313-10625 America/Mazatlan Mountain Time - most locations +MX +2313-10625 America/Mazatlan Mountain Time - S Baja, Nayarit, Sinaloa MX +2838-10605 America/Chihuahua Mountain Time - Chihuahua +MX +2904-11058 America/Hermosillo Mountain Standard Time - Sonora MX +3232-11701 America/Tijuana Pacific Time MY +0310+10142 Asia/Kuala_Lumpur peninsular Malaysia MY +0133+11020 Asia/Kuching Sabah & Sarawak

1 0

Capital change Lagos/Abuja
by Jesper Nørgaard Jan. 9, 2000

Jan. 9, 2000

I'm not sure if there exists a rule that the tzdata files should use the capital of a country as base e.g. "Europe/Copenhagen" when there is only one time zone in a country. However, if that is the convention which is followed, it might interest you that Nigeria apparently changed capital in 1991 from Lagos to Abuja. My best source (there are plenty) is http://www.usia.gov/regional/af/sectrp99/infonige.htm which mentions the date for the capital change as being 12.th. of December 1991: ===== quote ======== Capital: Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja. ===== unquote ======== Regards, Jesper Nørgaard Email: jnorgard(a)df1.telmex.net.mx Programador/Analista CIMMYT - Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo Dirección: CIMMYT, Lisboa 27, 06600 Mexico, D.F. Tel.: +52 (5) 7267541 ext. 1374 Fax: +52 (5) 7267558 Tel. Casa: 53-10-05-95 ó 53-10-97-78 CIMMYT home page: http://www.cimmyt.mx

1 0

Sonora going to year-round standard time; Atyrau switched zones twice?
by Paul Eggert Jan. 9, 2000

Jan. 9, 2000

A while ago Gwillim Law sent me a summary of the time zone changes in the 1999-09 IATA Standard Schedules Information Manual, and I finally got around to looking at them. Here are changes that are not in the current tz tables: Mexico: The state of Sonora is going on year-round Mountain Standard Time. Kazakstan: Atyrau switched from Western (Kazazhstan) time to Central in mid-1997, and switched back in mid-1999. Does anyone on this list have more information about these changes, in particular, details about exactly when the changes occurred? I tried to confirm them on the web, but my Spanish is limited and my Kazazh nonexistent.

1 0

Guernsey adoption of GMT, and WW2 reference
by Joseph S. Myers Jan. 6, 2000

Jan. 6, 2000

Some more work on the history of legal time in the Channel Islands (some way still to go before the information for the Crown Dependencies is as complete as that for the UK, though).... I found this, relating to the adoption of GMT in Guernsey, in the published "Recueil D'Ordonnances de la Cour Royale de l'Ile de Guernesey", Tome V, 1901-1931, in Cambridge University Library. The library doesn't have a correspoding series for Jersey, so I don't yet have the corresponding 1898 law for Jersey. (Likewise, I have yet to check the 1883 law of the Isle of Man mentioned in the europe file, and nor do I know whether this law of Guernsey would cover Alderney or Sark, which at least nowadays are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, but which made some of their own summer-time legislation in World War 1.) >From the World War 2 period, when the Channel Islands, under German occupation, may well have used a different time from that in the UK, I have references to "The Defence (Channel Islands) Regulations, 1944", with marginal titles "Advance of time" and "Change of time", being registered on the records of Guernsey; these regulations having been made by the officer in command of the armed forces in the Channel Islands under powers given by The Emergency Powers (Channel Islands) Order in Council, 1944 (S.R. & O. 1944 No. 1483), but apparently not themselves included in the series of UK Statutory Rules and Orders. Ordonnance réglant l'heure légale. La Cour, en renouvelant les dispositions de l'Ordonnance provisoire réglant l'heure légale passée aux Chefs-Plaids d'après Pâques tenus le 19 avril 1909 et renouvelée par l'Ordonnance provisoire passée aux Chefs-Plaids d'aprés Pâques tenus le 31 mars 1913, ouïes les conclusions des Officiers du Roi a ordonné et ordonne :- Vu la délibération des États en date du 7 avril 1909. La Cour, ouïes les conclusions des Officiers du Roi, a ordonné et ordonne :- ARTICLE UNIQUE ^ L'heure légale en cette Île est l'heure temps moyen de Greenwich. | [marginal note: L'heure légale temps moyen de Greenwich.] -- Joseph S. Myers jsm28(a)cam.ac.uk

1 0

Timezone boundaries
by Oscar van Vlijmen Jan. 5, 2000

Jan. 5, 2000

This was part of a mail from Oscar van Vlijmen: > [...] Theoretical timezones: > Take [0;15W), [15;30W),..., [165;180W), [180E;165E),..., [15E;0E) > Times in hours from UT. [ means including, ) means not including. > 0-15E +1 [...] Gwillim Law wrote: Minor correction: what I was trying to express was that ships at sea should use UTC between 7.5 degrees E and 7.5 degrees W, UTC+1 between 7.5 degrees E and 22.5 degrees E, etc. Oscar replies: Gwillim could be very right. Looking carefully at for instance the "standard time zones" map from HM Nautical Almanac Office and the map "standard time zones of the world" from the CIA world factbook (both of which maps btw are not up to date), then I can see that they reflect the situation Gwillim depicts. Another flaw in my list was the absence of a UT+0 zone. Thanks for all your remarks. Here is the new list: Theoretical timezones: Times in hours from UT. [ ] means including, ( ) means not including. This rather arbitrary distinction is needed for mathematical reasons, i.e. when implementing in a program. longitude range time offset [7.5W-7.5E) +0 [7.5E-22.5E) +1 [22.5E-37.5E) +2 [37.5E-52.5E) +3 [52.5E-67.5E) +4 [67.5E-82.5E) +5 [82.5E-97.5E) +6 [97.5E-112.5E) +7 [112.5E-127.5E) +8 [127.5E-142.5E) +9 [142.5E-157.5E) +10 [157.5E-172.5E) +11 [172.5E-180E) +12 (172.5W-180W] -12 (157.5W-172.5W] -11 (142.5W-157.5W] -10 (127.5W-142.5W] -9 (112.5W-127.5W] -8 (97.5W-112.5W] -7 (82.5W-97.5W] -6 (67.5W-82.5W] -5 (52.5W-67.5W] -4 (37.5W-52.5W] -3 (22.5W-37.5W] -2 (7.5W-22.5W] -1 Oscar van Vlijmen 2000-01-05

2 1

International Date Line, international waters
by Oscar van Vlijmen Jan. 5, 2000

Jan. 5, 2000

Gwillim Law wrote: >The International Date Line is not defined by any international standard, >convention, or treaty. Mapmakers are free to draw it as they please. >Reputable mapmakers will simply ensure that every point of land appears on >the correct side of the IDL, according to the date legally observed there. >When Kiribati adopted a uniform date in 1995, thereby moving the Phoenix and >Line Islands to the west side of the IDL (or, if you prefer, moving the IDL >to the east side of the Phoenix and Line Islands), I suppose that most >mapmakers redrew the IDL following the boundary of Kiribati. Even that line >has a rather arbitrary nature. The straight-line boundaries between Pacific >island nations that are shown on many maps are based on an international >convention, but are not legally binding national borders. It is possible that this is the most accurate answer given thusfar. About those straight line borders between the Pacific island nations: My copy of the "Reference map of oceania" from the University of Hawaii Press shows only CURVED boundaries. The latest edition of the Times Atlas, the 10th comprehensive edition, shows super straight boundary lines. On the University of Hawaii press map you can find a large spot of "no man's water" enclosed by the boundaries of Micronesia, Nauru, Gilbert Islands, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The Times atlas gives the impression that this "no man's water" is just part of the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and the rest respectively. Furthermore, the Times atlas gives the impression that Niue, the example Gwillim Law gave, is part of the Cook Islands including (!) Tokelau and that a straight border runs immediately left of Niue's island with main city Alofi. The University of Hawaii press map by contrast, shows a curved border about 200 kilometers left of Niue, and also separate curved borders around the Cook Islands and the Tokelau Islands. Tokelau is annotated being a dependency of New Zealand, the Cook Islands are "free associated" with New Zealand and Niue has no status. The US Office of the Geographer and Global Issues of the State Department lists Niue as a New Zealand dependency, just like Tokelau and Cook (http://www.state.gov/www/regions/dependencies.html) There is probably more on the subject boundaries in: Law of the Sea, student edition: Chapter 5. Baselines, zones, limits and boundaries. I can't find a complete on-line edition and I do no possess a printed copy. It appears that in 1994 60 nations ratified the UN-sponsored Law of the Sea Treaty of 1982, which establishes a 12-mile limit for territorial waters, but many provisions already have been internationally accepted. These are 12 nautical miles, so 1852 x 12 = 22224 meters. The Treaty stipulates a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, for instance for regulating fishing rights and rights for mineral exploitation. The forerunner of the Law of the sea Treaty 1982, with respect to territorial boundaries, is the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone of 1958. This one is on-line: http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/territorial.contiguous.zone.1958.html Are we still talking timezones? Yes, Gwillim Law noted: >An Anglo-French Conference on Time-Keeping at Sea (June, 1917) agreed that >legal time on the high seas would be zone time, i.e., the standard time at >the nearest meridian that is a multiple of fifteen degrees. When you are out of territorial waters (12 nm) you are in international waters and you should obey the theoretical timezone, innit? I made up the following list: Theoretical timezones: Take [0;15W), [15;30W),..., [165;180W), [180E;165E),..., [15E;0E) Times in hours from UT. [ means including, ) means not including. 0-15E +1 15-30E +2 30-45E +3 45-60E +4 60-75E +5 75-90E +6 90-105E +7 105-120E +8 120-135E +9 135-150E +10 150-165E +11 165-180E +12 0-15W -1 15-30W -2 30-45W -3 45-60W -4 60-75W -5 75-90W -6 90-105W -7 105-120W -8 120-135W -9 135-150W -10 150-165W -11 165-180W -12 Is all this information useful or too silly to talk about? Oscar van Vlijmen 2000-01-05

2 1

RE: International Date Line, international waters
by Law, Gwil Jr. Jan. 5, 2000

Jan. 5, 2000

Oscar van Vlijmen wrote: > [...] Gwillim Law noted: >>An Anglo-French Conference on Time-Keeping at Sea (June, 1917) agreed that >>legal time on the high seas would be zone time, i.e., the standard time at >>the nearest meridian that is a multiple of fifteen degrees. > [...] Theoretical timezones: > Take [0;15W), [15;30W),..., [165;180W), [180E;165E),..., [15E;0E) > Times in hours from UT. [ means including, ) means not including. > 0-15E +1 [...] Minor correction: what I was trying to express was that ships at sea should use UTC between 7.5 degrees E and 7.5 degrees W, UTC+1 between 7.5 degrees E and 22.5 degrees E, etc. Gwillim Law

1 0

For your amusement
by Manavendra Thakur Jan. 3, 2000

Jan. 3, 2000

Hi folks, I've been an observer ("lurker") of this mailing list for some years now. In my previous life, I used to use the information to provide free timezone patches for European customers of the operating system my previous company produced. My grateful and humble thanks to all of you who have contributed to the upkeep of this precious resource over the years! As a small token, here's something for your amusement that I saw in the New York Times newswire... I find it amazing that Cameron's Corner in Australia straddles three timezones. (But probably this isn't news to anyone on this mailing list!) Manavendra Thakur mthakur(a)alum.mit.edu December 29, 1999 'Auld Lang Syne' by 3 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SYDNEY, Australia, Dec. 28 -- Party, party, party! New Year's Eve celebrations at Cameron's Corner, a remote settlement in Australia's Outback, will be in triplicate, the local bar owner said today. The tiny village about 740 miles northwest of Sydney straddles three state boundaries, and three times zones. This means it will witness the end of the old and the start of the new millennium not once, not twice, but three times in the space of just one hour and one minute. Cameron's Corner's usual population -- four -- is expected to swell to around 1,000 on Dec. 31 as revelers head there for a millennium party with a difference. Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company

5 5

RE: International date line
by Law, Gwil Jr. Jan. 3, 2000

Jan. 3, 2000

John Cowan wrote: >> Niue, to take a simple example, is shown in my Rand McNally International >> Atlas surrounded by a rectangle extending from approximately 166.5 to 170.5 >> degrees West, and 17.5 to 23.5 degrees South. > > Okay. And this bounding box is defined by an international convention? > Or is it just RMcN's convention? I think it's an international convention. That's based on something I read several years ago. I don't have any reference for it at this date. As I tried to state, my original posting on this topic was more than mere speculation, but less than authoritative. Gwillim Law

2 1

RE: International date line
by Law, Gwil Jr. Jan. 3, 2000

Jan. 3, 2000

John Cowan wrote: >> The straight-line boundaries between Pacific >> island nations that are shown on many maps are based on an international >> convention, but are not legally binding national borders. > > I'm confused. Does this mean that there are overlapping claims to sovereignty, > or what? What is a "legally binding national border" anyway? As I understand the situation, sovereignty extends to the land area of each island, plus its territorial waters (the twelve-mile limit, or whatever the individual country claims). The "straight-line boundaries" I was talking about divide a large part of the Pacific into contiguous zones, extending well beyond the limits of sovereignty. Niue, to take a simple example, is shown in my Rand McNally International Atlas surrounded by a rectangle extending from approximately 166.5 to 170.5 degrees West, and 17.5 to 23.5 degrees South. The actual extent of Niue, including its territorial waters, can be contained within a rectangle from about 169.5 to 170.2 degrees West, and 18.7 to 19.4 degrees South. It would take me some time and effort to define "legally binding national border". I would define a "not-legally-binding-national-border" as a line on a map with no particular significance. Does that help? Gwillim Law

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