How do time zones work at the poles?

[Bigfella237]

I was wondering the other day how time zones work at the Earth's poles?

If I'm standing a metre away from the north pole and I run clockwise around it, am I travelling back in time? And once I cross the international date line will I catch up with myself?

Or if I take a baby-step once an hour is time actually standing still? Is this how Santa does it?



Season's Greetings!
Andrew

[OSIRUS]

What time is it at the North and South Pole?

Since lines of longitude converge at the North and South Pole, it's almost impossible (and very impractical) to determine which time zone you're in based on the longitude.

Therefore, researchers in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the earth usually use the time zone associated with their research stations. For example, since nearly all flights to Antarctica and the South Pole are from New Zealand, New Zealand time is the most commonly used time zone in Antarctica.

New Zealand time is the most commonly used time zone in Antarctica

North Pole, uses Alaska Time ......

[gordon_s1942]

I thought the Poles only had two zones, either Dark with a brief Sunrise or Light with a brief Sunset, but either way its bleeedin' freeezin' cold!!!

[mickc]

You need to be careful on your approach, will you arrive today or yesterday.

[mtv]

You can travel around the world on foot very quickly at the poles.

[Tiny]

You can travel around the world on foot very quickly at the poles.

Technically that would be incorrect as to "travel around the world" would imply circumnavigating it (navigation of a circumference). So from the North pole you would travel longitudinally to the South pole then back to the North pole on the opposite side of the longitudinal grid.

In principle, if a person walks completely around either Pole, they will have crossed all , but this is not generally considered a "circumnavigation." A basic definition of a global circumnavigation would be a route which covers at least a , and in particular one which passes through at least one pair of points to each other. In practice, different definitions of world circumnavigation are used, in order to accommodate practical constraints depending on the method of travel. Since the planet is , a trip from one Pole to the other, and back again on the other side, would technically be a circumnavigation, but generally preclude such a voyage.

As for the time, just remember time is a concept invented by man & the measurement there of is purely theoretical & relevant only to the users.

[Bigfella237]

As for the time, just remember time is a concept invented by man & the measurement there of is purely theoretical & relevant only to the users.

Ahh... I was wondering when we were going to get around to relativity

[trash]

The time can of course be whatever you reference yourself to. As mentioned, since a lot of support for Antarctica comes from NZ it makes sense to synchronise to that time.
Likewise I would think that the Russian bases may be on Moscow time.

Or like the space station which is one East coast USA time which helps synchronise work hours with the ground.

[gordon_s1942]

Like either the Date Line or Greeenwich, you need a 'fixed' point to reference to.
I enjoy watching shows like the UK Time Team and you soon realise because the Gregorian Calendar we use today is less than 800 years old and its been 'amended' a few times, how hard it is to date things like coins from the Roman era where they showed the head of the Emperor when the coin was 'struck'

So Time is only 'Relevant' (sory bout dat) to the user in the space their in.