[LEAPSECS] Consensus building?

[Warner Losh]

On 02/03/2011 07:00, Clive D.W. Feather wrote:

> Warner Losh said:

>>> SI

>>> - the SI-second is a standardised unit of measurement

>>> - the SI-second is currently defined as a fixed number of transitions

>>> of a caesium atom

>>> - the current definition of the SI-second was ratified in 1967

>> Agreed.  I'd also add

>> - the SI-second forms the basis for many other fundamental units of measure.

>>

>>> - an SI-based-minute is formed from exactly 60 SI-seconds

>>> - an SI-based-hour is formed from exactly 60 SI-based-minutes and thus

>>> exactly 3600 SI-seconds

>>> - an SI-based-day is formed from exactly 24 SI-based-hours and thus

>>> exactly 86400 SI-seconds

>>>

>> These are true only most of the time.  On leap second day, they are all

>> false and off by 1, typically one low.  It all depends on the timescale

>> that you use, and thus there can't be a universal definition here.

> Actually, Stephen is right and you're wrong. The BIPM defines an SI minute,

> hour, and day in exactly this form. See table 6, page 32, of:

> http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/si_brochure_8_en.pdf

>

> This, of course, implies that "SI-based-" is the same as "TAI-"


In my defense I'll note that they used to be non-SI units that were 
recently added to SI due to their widespread use....

I wonder if the BIPM is aware of this inconsistency or not...

Warner