Difference Between GMT and BST
Both the term GMT and BST tell the time, but they both have a different meaning; it can also be told that they also have very many similarities in them.
There is a straight one-hour difference between GMT and BST time zones, which results in a change in the time zone from UTC+00:00 to UTC+01:00. This time zone change affects the daylight, for instance, mornings have 1 hour’s less daylight, and on the other hand, evenings have 1 hour more.
Like other time zones, GMT is also recorded as per the mean solar time, but it is specifically for the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, London. Another considerable thing is that this time standard remains the same for all years, and it doesn’t get affected by summertime clock change. This time zone is used as standard time in Europe, Antarctica, Africa, and North America.
GMT vs BST
The main difference between GMT and BST is that the time difference between the civil time of the United Kingdom and Greenwich Mean Time is around 1 hour; therefore, the morning daylight is decreased by an hour, and the evening has an hour more.
Comparison Table Between GMT and BST
| Parameter of Comparison | GMT | BST |
| Definition | BST or British Summer Time stands for the mean solar time, which affects the daylight by an hour of difference compared to GMT in the United Kingdom between March and October. | GMT or Greenwich Mean Time stands for the mean solar time, which is recorded from the Royal Observatory of Greenwich London. |
| Origin | The British summertime act was created in 1972, which led to the clocks changing from March to late October. | The GMT was 1st introduced or came into play in November 1884 at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, DC, USA. |
| Practices | British mariners have used GMT since early 1800. | BST was introduced in early 1900. |
| Duration | GMT starts on the last day following BST. | BST starts on the last day of Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of October. |
| Importance | GMT is considered as the reference at the prime meridian at Greenwich; therefore, it becomes the Centre of world time and for the global system of time zones. | BST was introduced for temporary consideration for the period when ordinary daylight saving would be in action. |
What is GMT?
GMT or Greenwich Mean Time stands for time that was introduced at Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, from midnight. IT all started in early 1800 when transportation and communication were developing; the coordination of different areas was a real mesh.
For example, if there was noon in any place in the west, whereas in the south, the afternoon was almost over, and it created a lot of problems among the USA railway officers and the officers who were working in the expansion of the railway run. So, to face the situation, the standard system was recommended in 1883.
Whereas, some intellects also propose that the GMT concept was introduced in 1884 where 26 countries held a meeting and came to the solution that the royal observatory in Greenwich London will be taken as the reference point as 0-degree longitude.
The above concepts suggest the same theory that the globe is divided into 24 time zones. According to theory, our earth completes one rotation in its axis in 24 hours that equal to 360 degrees in 1 rotation. Further 360/15=24 time zones. From the North pole to the South pole, 24 lines were drawn at an interval of 15 degrees each.
So, the earth moves 15 degrees in an hour. Therefore, whenever we move 15-degree 1 hour will be changed, and it depends upon whether it increases by 1 hour or decreases by 1 hour depending upon. If you move left to the prime meridian, then the time will decrease by an hour, and if you move right, it will increase by one hour.
What is BST?
BST or British Summer Time was known quite a few years ago but was considered in the middle of the first world war in 1916. William Willet introduced it, but most people don’t know its significance, and it’s like the sun is going to set and rise as usual, but why is it important to have BST. British Summer Time is also known as daylight saving time, and in Britain, during winter, the sunlight is less than in summer the daylight is taken between the sunrise, which is 8’ o’clock in the morning, and the sunset is 4’o clock evening giving us less daylight time.
While in summer, the sunlight is more because the sunrise is at 3:30 A.M and the sunset is 8:30 P.M, which causes the extra daylight. Therefore, during summer in Britain, the morning is extended by 1 hour, 3:30 to 4:30, and the evening is increased by an hour, which is 8:30 to 9:30. Therefore, this increase in an hour gives the citizen an advantage to have one hour ahead of the usual time.
Main Differences Between GMT and BST
Conclusion
GMT and BST are both time system which is interrelated to each other, as per the above statements stated above, so it can be concluded that they don’t have that many significant differences among them. Both of them were founded in the United Kingdom.
It’s a bit confusing to understand both the terms, but it gets simpler to understand when you get the knowledge about them. GMT and BST have given the common people a standard time system to rely on, simplifying the mess.
References
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