Local Solar Time (Solar Time) is the time according to the position of the Sun in the sky relative to one specific location on the ground. In solar time, the Sun is always due south (or north if you live in the southern hemisphere) at exactly noon.
While this might work well for someone living in a specific location, it means that someone else living just a few miles east or west of the first person would realize a slightly different solar time. The greater the distance between the two people, the greater difference in solar time.
An example of some of the challenges that one might face if we still relied on local solar time instead of the standard time zones that we use today might be the following:
You and your family take a trip to visit a relative who lives nearly 200 miles west of your home. Before leaving, you tell your best friend that you will call them at noon solar time the next day. The following day, your friend waits, checks their sundial and waits by the phone at solar noon. The problem is, it’s not yet solar noon where you are.
Since the majority of television broadcasts originate in New York City, it could be very difficult to know what time your favorite show starts. Standardized time zones make it easier to coordinate activities and events over long distances.
Prior to the industrial age, every municipality around the civilized world set its official clock, according to the local position of the Sun at noon. But, with the introduction of the steam engine, which was used in rail travel, passengers found themselves having to constantly re-set their watches as a train progressed East and West through the neighboring towns on its daily run.
Standard time, where all clocks in a large region are set to the same time, was established to solve this problem.
Did you know that by using Local Mean Time (LMT) you can calculate the time of day in relation to the current solar time? Have trouble understanding that? Visit Worldtimeserver.com to learn more.