History of how it came to be in the UK that we have BST, objections or could it go further, double summer time. The changes in latitude through the UK don't help.
March 2018
Moving from GMT to BST is a bit of a pain when looking at forecast models. Through the summer months you have to adjust each time you have a look, add the hour, work out which part of the afternoon/ morning you are really looking at. It’s simpler in winter when the timestamp does what it says on the tin.
It is light though, already in the mornings. We’ve passed the equinox now and everyone in the spring team, meteorologically and astronomically. One is to do with climate data and comparing statistics Spring = March/April/May, the other a physical point to do with the tilt of the earth’s rotational axis as it orbits the sun. Now there are more daylight hours than darkness, whooo!
The UK has been changing the clocks for over 100 years. Back in 1784 an American politician and inventor called Benjamin Franklin suggested that if people got up earlier, when it was lighter, then it would save on candles. He was in Paris at the time and it is said that he was only joking.
With this weekend’s Spring forward (for October, Fall back) adjustments, we will indeed be getting up early, groan, as 7am becomes 8am on your phone clock, (but not for many months on your car/oven clock). Those with small children and babies will spend several days in extra confusion as meal times and bedtimes go out the window. The weekend will be shorter too, so back to work on Monday comes quicker. But spring is in the air, it’s going to get warmer, one day*.
In Inverness sunrise on March Thurs 22nd is 0613 and sunset 1835 GMT
As the clocks change Monday 26th 07:02 and set 19:43 BST
In London sunrise Mon 26th 06:49 and set 19:23 BST
Other people, including a William Willett, around the turn of the 20th century suggested Daylight-Saving plans and a bill reached the House of Commons in 1908. It wasn’t until 1916, into World War I that it was put into operation. A reason being; to save fuel for the war effort by using less artificial light. In World War II there was a two-hour shift, British Double Summer Time but that didn't last long.
Nowadays the saved fuel on lighting is negligible compared with our gadget and appliance usage and we more energy saving lightblubs. Most widely quoted for continuing to change the clocks is road safety and the possibility of less accidents around the dusk/dawn period. This is taken further by the Lighter Later campaign who are
calling for our clocks to be put forward by an hour year-round – to GMT+2 in summer and GMT+1 in winter. This would make our evenings lighter and give us more daylight during waking hours. It would be a life saver
Along the length of the UK there are variations of how dark it remains in mid-winter, or how light it is in mid-summer from the Isle of Wight up to Scottish Islands. Portugal, another long narrow country has similar issues with its time setting and the variations north to south and has tried several solutions. It currently is on WET, western European time, the same as GMT whereas Spain, also part of the Iberian Peninsula is on CET (Central) an hour ahead. European countries keep one time zone each, even if their land neighbour is on another. Wider countries like Canada, US and Russia span many. It was the growth of the railways which lead to the unified standard time for Great Britain in 1880 becoming law. Before that, noon was when the sun was at its highest point, above the town or city you were in, so varying gently west to east.
Discussions continue about the modern day changing to BST and back again. Studies have also found a reduction in robberies or muggings in other countries. There are some negative links to health, with the obvious tiredness after the March change due to lack of sleep. But also, a great bonus of the light evenings and people being active after work or school, socialising, moving, keeping fit and generally shifting away from the modern day sedentary lifestyle. If you are concerned about the clock change messing with your mind, think of the twin boys born in Massachusetts, where Samuel was born at 1:39am and 31 mins later his brother arrived with a time of birth 1:10am making Ronan the older twin. Life is truly stranger than fiction
Nowadays each changeover brings up the arguments for and against. Lerwick for midwinter sees sunrise at 09:08 and sunset at 14:57 GMT. Any shifts later would put dawn on Shetland well into mid morning in December. There are questions about the asymmetry of our time imposed winter; Nov/Dec 2 months/Jan/Feb/March 3 months around the shortest day 21st Dec. Why does it continue well into March? Part of the Lighter Later issue is about people being asleep whilst it is light and wasting those hours. The same thoughts which lead to BST being introduced over a century ago, from candle thriftiness or the curtailing of William Willett’s evening round of golf when the sun set too soon after work.
* UK temperatures do look to be subdued even through Easter weekend. More sunlight, but still a flow of cold air.
