A Beginner’s Guide to Time Zones of the World

Perex: Time zones can be defined as the local time or a region. They help define the appropriate time of a country and have phenomenal importance. 

Simply put, the term - time zone - can mean a lot of things, but usually it refers to the local time or a country or region. In other words, time zones define and establish the appropriate time within individual geographical areas, thereby exerting monumental influence on business, communication, etc. 

Time zones are based on certain rules pertaining to the geographical principles of longitude. To fully comprehend the nitty-gritty of time zones, you must understand how the standard is defined. Sounds fascinating right? Well, read ahead!

How Are Time Zones Established?

To begin with, the earth takes 24 hours to rotate on its axis. We divide the earth into various time zones using imaginary lines called meridians that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Currently, there are 24 time zones.

Among the various meridians, the Greenwich Prime Meridian stands out and is pertinent in determining the time. The Greenwich Meridian, also known as Prime Meridian, is an imaginary line running through the UK. It divides the world into eastern and western hemispheres. Time in countries to the east of the Prime Meridian is always ahead of that of the UK. On the other hand, time in countries to the west of the Prime Meridian is always behind that of the UK. 

The local time within a time zone is defined by its difference from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the world’s time standard. The offset is expressed as either UTC- or UTC and the number of hours and minutes. For example, the Indian Standard Time is UTC + 5:30, meaning that the local time of India is five and a hours ahead of the standard time, established by the Greenwich Prime meridian. Likewise, the Standard Time of the USA is UTC-7. 

Interesting Facts about Time Zones

Now that we have touched upon the basics of time zones, let us dabble into some interesting facts.

1. Russia spans across a whopping 11 time zones on the map, but it adheres to only 9 out of 11. 
2. The International Space Station also follows GMT and is only five hours ahead of New York, technically. 
3. Hawaii and Alaska are contrasting destinations; one known for its beaches and glistening sun and the other for its icy wilderness. But, surprisingly, these two distinct regions share a time zone for half the year, when Alaska observes DST.
4. Jet lag is a typical experience for travelers transcending multiple time zones. It happens because the body’s internal clock struggles to adapt to a new daylight and darkness schedule. 
5. The globe is categorized into 24 time zones, each about 15 degrees longitude in width. Each zone represents an hour’s difference from its adjacent zone. This ensures that within each zone, people experience solar midday around the same clock time. 

Conclusion

So, there it was, a crisp overview of time zones. Talking about time, if you are looking for a tool that can help you traverse through different time zones, Vefru.com’s Time Zone Tool has got your back!

Summary

Time zones refer to the local time of a country or region, which is established according to the Greenwich Prime Meridian.