Sourcing the Future in Nature

Standard time is measured by atomic clocks, which provides a basis for global transactions independent of the environment in which we live. Rivers offer an alternative. Monitoring their natural flow makes us more attentive to ground conditions. Spanning deep time and changing with the seasons, they’re a meaningful source of ecological wisdom both today and tomorrow.

New England River Time engages a network of five rivers to regulate a new kind of clock, one which speeds up and slows down with the waters. The clock can be used to recalibrate all aspects of life, from work schedules to personal relationships. River Time can be applicable locally and globally, presenting a new standard of ground truth that will be increasingly relevant as we reinforce and reimagine our relationships with the natural world.

New England River Time is a creative work by experimental philosopher, artist, and writer Jonathon Keats. He creates conceptually driven interdisciplinary art projects that pose questions about the universe.

New England River Time is featured in the MIT Museum’s Split | Second exhibition, on view from February 19, 2026 - January 4, 2027. Learn more about the exhibition here.

Calculating River Time

River time is calculated by comparing the current flow of a stream against its long-term historical (21 - 95 year) average flow. If the current flow is faster than the historical average, river time runs faster than standard time, and if the flow is slower than the historical average, river time runs slower.

For example, if the historical average for a stream is 1000 cubic feet per second (cfs) and the current flow is 1200 cfs (20% more water volumne), then 60 seconds of river time will be equal to 50 seconds of standard time (time running 20% faster). The same stream, flowing at a rate of 400 cfs (60% slower) would result in river time running 60% slower than standard time, and 60 seconds of river time would equal 150 seconds of standard time.

During winter months, flow tends to be significantly lower due to lower temperatures, with the stream water freezing, precipitation falling as snow rather than rain, and little or no glacial melting, with a corresponding slowdown of river time. In warmer summer months, melting snow and glacial ice, and preciptation falling as rain dramatically increase the flow, and river time speeds up.

New England river time is calculated by combining the river time rates of the Sudbury River, Concord River, Alewife Brook, Charles River, and Neponset River to generate an average time affected by the unique characteristics of each stream. Flow data for each stream is gathered from gauges maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with measurements reported every 15-30 minutes on the USGS Water Data wwebsite. This is used to calculate the river time for each individual river, plus a combined New England mean river time with each stream given equal weight.

The calculation of New England river time began on January 1, 2026, and over the course of a year, if the streams flow averages out to the historical annual flow, river time will also average out to standard time: falling behind during winter months, and catching up again during summer. However, if weather (increased rainfall, drought, etc.) and climate (changing average temperature, shifting weather patterns, etc.) changes occur, river time will drift away from standard time, falling ahead or behind over the years.