Difference Between PST and MST (With Table)

The time zones around the globe are divided into different categories. As there is no common time zone of continents or even countries, the time zones have been given names like pacific time zone, central time zone, etc. These time zones that have been divided by names are the sources for converting time and knowing the exact ones at the same moment.

The Pacific Standard Time, as the name says, is for the countries around the Pacific Ocean like western Canada, western Mexico, and western parts of the United States. The mountain time zone is for northern America. It is generally used in Canada and North America. The mean solar time, which is, in simple words is the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun, is the time clock on which this time zone is currently based.

PST vs MST

The main difference between PST and MST is that PST stands for Pacific Standard Time which is for western America, western Canada, and western Mexico, while MST stands for Mountain Standard Time which is for northern America and northern Canada. It is quite simple and easy to get the mountain standard time as it just requires subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time, which is majorly called the UTC.

The Pacific Standard Time is basically encompassing the western parts of three countries, and they are America, Canada, and Mexico. These countries usually get their accurate time zone just by subtracting eight hours from the universal coordinated time that is the UTC. Pacific time zone is the other name of it and is called such in the united states and Canada, and that time which falls under this zone is known as the Pacific Standard Time.

MST stands for Mountain Standard Time which is for northern America and northern Canada. It is quite simple and easy to get the mountain standard time as it just requires subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time, which is majorly called the UTC. The mean solar time, which is, in simple words is the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun, is the time clock on which this time zone is currently based.

Comparison Table Between PST and MST

Parameters of comparison

PST

MST

Abbreviation

Pacific Standard Time.

Mountain Standard Time.

UTC

Eight hours before he UTC.

Seven hours before the UTC.

Countries

Western parts of three countries and are America, Canada, and Mexico.

Northern America and northern Canada.

Difference

PST calculates the standard time for western parts of these countries.

MST calculates the standard time for the northern parts of these countries.

Other names

Pacific time zone.

Mountain time, mountain daylight time.

What is PST?

The Pacific Standard Time is basically encompassing the western parts of three countries, and they are America, Canada, and Mexico. These countries usually get their accurate time zone just by subtracting eight hours from the universal coordinated time that is the UTC. In the regions of the United States and Canada, it is referred to as Pacific Time Zone, and that time which falls under this zone is known as the Pacific Standard Time.

Just like the United States and Canada, Mexica refer to it as the northwest time zone, and in their native language, it is Zona Noroeste while it has the same observation of the daylight tome as America and Canada has. The largest city that falls under this Pacific Standard Time is Los Angeles who also has the largest metropolitan area in the same time zone.

What is MST?

MST stands for Mountain Standard Time which is for northern America and northern Canada. It is quite simple and easy to get the mountain standard time as it just requires subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time, which is majorly called the UTC. The mean solar time, which is, in simple words is the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun, is the time clock on which this time zone is currently based.

MST has quite a few other names too, and they are according to the zones like- when observing the daylight time, it is mountain daylight time, and when observing the standard time, it is mountain standard time. The mountains, which have some rocky textures that are the mountains that range from the area of British Columbia to New Mexico, are given this name.

Main Differences Between PST and MST

  1. The main difference between PST and MST is that PST calculates the standard time for western parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while MST calculates the standard time for the northern parts of the United States and Canada.
  2. PST stands for Pacific Standard Time, while MST stands for Mountain Standard Time.
  3. PST is eight hours before the UTC, while MST is Seven hours before the UTC. One can calculate Mountain Standard Time by just subtracting seven hours from the universal coordinated time that is UTC.
  4. PST includes Western parts of three countries, and are America, Canada, and Mexico, while MST includes Northern America and northern Canada. The time of the clock in this time zone is specifically based on the mean solar time, which is, in simple words is the calculation of the passage of time through the movement of the sun.
  5. Another name of PST is the Pacific time zone, while other names of MST are Mountain time, mountain daylight time.

Conclusion

It is now concluded both the mountain and the pacific are two different time zones that are used in different countries. Both of them have their relevance with the universal coordinated time. As there is no common time zone of continents or even countries, the time zones have been given names like pacific time zone, central time zone, etc.

The Pacific Standard Time, as the name says, is for the countries around the Pacific Ocean like western Canada, western Mexico, and western parts of the United States. The mountain time zone is for northern America. It is generally used in Canada and North America.

References

  1. https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/byulr2010&section=76
  2. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781936331642-7/using-science-soundly-yucca-mountain-standard-robert-fri