What does TAU mean?

G'day mates,

The JTWC frequently uses the acronym(?) "TAU" when referring to the
estimated time of an event. For example, in the latest prognostic
reasoning for typhoon 02W (Chanchu) found at
<https://metoc.npmoc.navy.mil/jtwc/warnings/wp0206prog.txt>
the term is used in the following sense:
<quoting>
... INITIATE A CURVE TOWARD THE NORTHEAST BEYOND TAU 12. THE SYSTEM IS
FORECAST TO BEGIN EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION BY 12 HOURS AND COMPLETE
THE TRANSITION BY TAU 36. THE EXTRATROPICAL CIRCULATION WILL EXIT
CHINA JUST SOUTH OF SHANGHAI AT TAU 48.
</quoting>

Googling for a definition has not been very useful...
Here's an example of typical results:

Source: <http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/tau>
Acronym Definition
TAU Taiwanese American Union
TAU Tautog (FAO species name code)
TAU Tel Aviv University
TAU Teller Assist Unit (banking)
TAU Texas Area Untouchables (Counter-Strike team)
TAU The Accelerated University
TAU The American University
TAU Total Annihilation Universe (gaming site)
TAU TransAlta Utilities
TAU Transport and Up
TAU Tuning and Analysis Utilities
TAU Twin Agent Unit

Even the more defence oriented sites such as
<http://www.dacs.dtic.mil/databases/acronym/acro.
php?beginAcronym=T&offset=250>
(only seen courtesy of a Google cache) don't list TAU.
[But I did rather like these two found at that site:
TASWIT Tactical Advanced Simulated Warfare Integrated Trainer
TAWDS Transportable Automated Weather Distribution System ]

Cheers, Phred.

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