Should Mountain Time States Adopt Pacific Time?

The concept of Mountain Time is a practical reality that affects millions of people. Nestled in the vast expanse of mountainous regions, these areas take pride in their individual time zones. The sun plays a natural role in determining the timing of activities, but the current system of time zones can sometimes be at odds with this.

The History of Time Zone Synchronization

The current system of time divides the world into 24 time zones, each representing a 15-degree longitudinal span of the Earth. This was originally conceived with the advent of railroad transportation to prevent collisions between trains traveling towards each other. Mechanical clocks were used to standardize the time across cities and towns, thus creating the zone system we know today.

Originally, the time was more approximate and dictated by the sun. However, with the development of mechanical clocks, the time became standardized to the mean solar time at a central reference point, such as Greenwich or Paris. This created a more precise system but introduced a second compromise: aligning the time with an exact 24-hour schedule, rather than the varying solar day.

For the vast regions spanning the continental U.S., including Mountain Time (MST) and Pacific Time (PST), this can often mean a significant discrepancy with local noon when the sun is at its highest.

Setting the Sun to Noon

The sun’s position at its highest in the sky does not perfectly align with noon on a mechanical clock. This is why the concept of an analemma was introduced. The analemma accounts for the sun’s apparent motion, which varies throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its elliptical orbit around the sun.

The introduction of time zones was a compromise to ensure coordinated schedules across expansive regions. While this system allows for the standardization of time for activities such as TV broadcasts, it does not align well with the natural rhythm of the sun, which is why there are complaints about shows being broadcast at inconvenient times for those in Mountain Time.

Combining Time Zones: A Feasibility Study

One proposal is to consolidate Mountain Time (MST) with Pacific Time (PST). This would effectively merge two time zones into one, shifting the population within those regions to a new standard time. This could help align local noon with more natural activities such as lunch breaks and reduce the confusion caused by time zone differences.

However, the practicality of this change is contingent on its benefits. Combining MST and PST would require a significant shift in local daily routines. For instance, sunrise could shift by an hour, adjusting midday by approximately half an hour, and sunset by an additional hour. This change would be a deviation from the natural world governed by the sun’s movements, a deviation that many might find inconvenient.

Global Standardization: Going Digital

Some have even proposed the worldwide adoption of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), which would eliminate the inconsistencies between different time zones. While this system would provide synchronization globally, it would remove the natural connection between time and the sun, which some argue is a benefit.

The sun’s cycle remains consistent, and adapting to a clock-based system might be more convenient for those who need precise scheduling, such as in corporate settings or for international travel. However, for individuals who rely on the sun for their daily routines, this transition to UTC might result in a loss of alignment with the natural world.

Conclusion

The decision to merge Mountain Time with Pacific Time is a complex one with both practical and philosophical considerations. While it could streamline activities and reduce confusion, it might also pull people further away from the natural rhythms of sun, moon, and stars. Ultimately, time zones are a fictional construct used to manage the world’s dynamics and simplify coordination. The choice to change or maintain the current system should be one that best serves the needs of the majority while respecting the natural order of the world.