We explain that what is the difference between local time and standard time with a table. While both local time and standard time denote the time of a specific place, there is a significant difference between the two terms. In particular, the Earth makes a complete rotation, which is three hundred and sixty degrees, in twenty-four hours; therefore, each time zone is fifteen degrees wide.
Time zones play an important role in highlighting the difference between local time and standard time. The following are the definitions and main differences between local time and standard time.
Local time vs. standard time
The difference between local time and standard time is that local time refers to the time that is estimated based on the movement of the sun, while standard time refers to the time set for particular places by the law of a country.
Local time changes based on longitude, while Standard Time is constant for a particular location.
What is the local time?
Local time refers to the specific time of a particular place expressed in relation to the longitudinal line that passes through the place. The difference in the local time of different places is due to the location of the places on different longitudinal lines.
Also, each place has the sun over its head at its own specific time, hence the difference in local time from one region to another.
For example, New York and Pittsburgh are two cities in the Eastern Time Zone with a different local time due to a longitudinal difference of six degrees.
What is standard time?
On the other hand, standard time refers to the standard meridian time of a particular country.
The difference in the standard time of different regions is due to the location of places in different time zones of the world.
Standard time is calculated by the distance, east or west, from the prime meridian of Greenwich to the longitudinal line within the region in question.
For example, despite being in different longitudinal positions, New York and Pittsburgh have similar standard hours.
Comparison table between local time and standard time
Comparison parameter Local time Standard time
| Sense | Time determined on the basis of the apparent movement of the sun. | This refers to the fixed time of various places in a given region that fall under the same standard meridian. |
| Variations | It changes with the change in longitudinal position. | Changes with the change in the time zones of the regions. |
| Longitudinal differences | Places within the same longitude have the same local time. | Places within the same longitude may have a different standard time. |
| Time computing | Time calculated in reference to the length of the place. | Time calculated in reference to the time zone of the particular region. |
| Use | It is used to manage events of a fixed duration, such as transport schedules. | Used to get rid of the confusion that can occur when regions are in different time zones |
Main differences between local time and standard time
While you take a look at local time and standard time for most places, there is a significant difference between them. However, that is not the only difference between the two times.
Local time and Standard Time differ on several other factors, including their meaning, variations, longitudinal factors, measurement, and precision. The following is a discussion of the main differences between local time and standard time.
Sense
While both times refer to the time of a particular place, local time and standard time are still different in terms of meaning.
The local time of a particular place refers to the time determined on the basis of the apparent movement of the sun.
On the other hand, standard time refers to the fixed time of various places in a given region that fall under the same standard meridian.
Variations
The local time of different places changes with the change in the longitudinal line on which the places are located. On the other hand, the standard time remains the same for a particular region or country.
However, Standard Time is also subject to change if the locations do not share a similar time zone. For example, cities on the East Coast of the United States share a similar standard time but different local times.
Taking an example from New York and Pittsburgh, which share a similar standard time, there is a difference of twenty-four minutes in the local time of their two cities. The difference is due to a longitudinal difference of six degrees between them.
However, despite being in the same country, cities on the east coast and those on the west coast of America share different local times and standard times.
Longitudinal differences
Changes in the longitudinal positioning of cities result in a different local time between the two locations. As a result, places on the same longitudinal line have the same local time. On the other hand, places that have shared the same longitudinal line may have different standard times.
Time computing
Getting to the local time and the standard time of a particular place is done in two different approaches. The local time of a particular place is calculated by the shadow cast by the sun and the meridian that passes through the place.
On the other hand, the standard time of a particular place is calculated by the time zone of the region. The time zone of a particular region is determined by the distance, either east or west, from the prime meridian of Greenwich to the region.
Use
Taking two cities that are in the same time zone, say Pittsburgh and New York, there are significant differences between the local time of the two cities. In particular, standard time generalizes the time of a given region, therefore it is not an accurate measure of time when handling time-bound events, such as exact transportation schedules.
While standard time generalizes the time of a certain region, local time gives the exact time of a particular place. However, Standard Time helps eliminate the confusion that can occur when a region uses different time zones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about local time and standard time
How is UTC time converted to local time?
The world has 24 time zones. Some regions, countries, or states typically change their hours by half an hour from 24-hour time zones or zones.
The standard within most time zones is an offset number of hours from a time scale (Coordinated Universal Time) generally abbreviated UTC.
To convert UTC to local time, a few hours must be added or subtracted from UTC.
For example, the following conversions apply to the United States:
Atlantic Daylight Time – subtract 3 hours from UTC
Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time – subtract 10 hours from UTC
Central Standard Time – subtract 6 hours from UTC
Pacific Standard Time – subtract 8 hours from UTC
Samoa Standard Time – subtract 11 hours from UTC
Pacific Time – subtract 7 hours from UTC
What is universal standard time?
Universal Standard Time is an international standard time that is common to all regions of the world. It is abbreviated as UTC.
The time scale is governed by a large number of precise atomic clocks found in laboratories around the world.
Timekeeping centers around the world have agreed to keep their scales coordinated and synchronized, hence the name Coordinated Universal Time.
How is standard time determined?
Standard time can be determined by the distance between the meridian of a region and the prime meridian. Standard Time is the official local time followed by a country.
Standard time varies with longitude, and as a result, different places within a country may have different local times, leading to confusion.
Therefore, local time determined from a longitude that passes through the center of a country is considered standard time. That standard time will be used nationwide to avoid confusion.
How is standard time useful?
Standard Time is useful for the following reasons:
1) Local time can be confusing if all countries and regions use their own local time.
2) Airways, railways, and other means of transportation and communication would be disrupted without standard time.
3) Following international agreement, Greenwich Mean Time can be linked to local standard meridian time. This makes it easier to determine the exact time in regions around the world due to fixed points like the international date line and Greenwich meanwhile.
Which country has the most time zones?
The country with the most time zones in France, with 12 time zones. The time range of these territories is from UTC-10 to UTC +12.
This is because the country has many supervised territories. Different parts of France use Central European Summer Time (UTC + 2) or Central European Time (UTC + 1).
France observes daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Final Thought
The above comparison presents the main differences between local time and standard time.
While local time refers to time based on the specific time the noon sun is overhead, Standard Time describes a regular local time for a particular region.
While two hours is useful, you may need local time when you need some time-limited events that require a more precise time.
