A time constant is the amount of time it takes for a meteorological sensor to respond to a rapid change in a measurand until it is measuring values within the accuracy tolerance usually expected of the sensor.
This most often applies to measurements of temperature, dewpoint temperature, humidity and air pressure. Radiosondes are especially affected due to their rapid increase in altitude.
Famous quotes containing the words time and/or constant:
“The world was not created once and for all time for each of us individually. There are added to it in the course of our life things of which we have never had any suspicion.”
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)
“Man, so long as he remains free, has no more constant and agonizing anxiety than find as quickly as possible someone to worship.”
—Feodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881)