Time transfer - Definition and Overview

Time transfer describes methods for transferring reference clock synchronization from one point to another, often over long distances. Radio-based navigation systems are frequently used as time transfer systems.

In some cases, multiple measurements are made over a period of time, and exact time synchronization only determined retrospectively.

In particular time synchronization has been accomplished by using pairs of radio telescopes to listen to a pulsar, with the time transfer accomplished by comparing time offsets of the received pulsar signal.

See also:

• Global Positioning System
• Loran
• Radio clock
• Atomic clocks
• International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service