Difference Between Local Time and Standard Time

Local time implies the time of a particular country, as regards the meridian running through it. On the contrary, standard time is referred as the official local time of a region ascertained by the distance from the Prime Meridian of the meridian running through the area. Here we’ll break down the significant differences between local time and standard time.

Earth rotates on its axis, leading to sun rise and sun set in different parts of the world. The part of the earth which receives sunlight, experience day whereas the part in the darkness experience night. In other words, different parts of the earth receive daylight at different times.

Due to this, the earth is divided into sections called as time zones. The earth completes one rotation of 360 degrees in 24 hours, i.e. it moves about 15 degrees in every hour. Therefore, the earth is parted into 24 time zones and each time zone is 15 degrees longitude wide, i.e. each time zone is one hour apart from the other. These time zones play a significant role in determining the standard time and local time of a place.

Content: Local Time Vs Standard Time

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Local Time	Standard Time
Meaning	Local time implies the time of a place determined on the basis of apparent movement of the sun.	Standard time refers to the fixed time for places falling in the same meridian, set in a country by law.
Variations	Changes continuously with the change in longitude.	Remains same for a particular country.
Longitude	Places on the same longitude have same local time.	Places on the same longitude have different standard time.
Reckoned by	Shadow cast by the sun.	Time zones

Definition of Local Time

Local time, as the name suggest is the time in a specific region, which is expressed in relation to the line of longitude passing through it. It is the time, reckoned on the basis of the meridian running through a particular place.

Local time is determined by the sun’s position in the sky, i.e. the shadow cast by the sun, which is shortest in the middle of the day, i.e. noon and longest at the sunrise and sunset. When the sun is exactly over the head, it is noon at that place. Noon occurs at different times in different meridians. Hence local time varies from region to region.

Definition of Standard Time

Standard time is used to mean the reference time for a particular area. It is the local time of the standard meridian passing through the region or country.

Standard time is the official time, set up for the country by law, which is actually the time of the specific meridian running through the region. It is reckoned by the distance, east or west from the Prime Meridian at Greenwich of the line of longitude lying within the region.

Conclusion

The most accurate way to measure time is by the movement of the planet, which causes day and night. While standard time is nothing but the regular local time of the particular region. On the other hand, the local time is the time of a specific area, when the midday sun is just above the head.