Convert Acre-Foot (ac*ft) to Picoliter (pL) instantly.
About these units
Acre-Foot (ac*ft)
An acre-foot represents the volume of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot—approximately 1,233.48 cubic meters or 325,851 gallons. This unit is foundational in water resource management throughout the western United States, where large-scale irrigation, reservoir planning, and drought analysis depend on acre-foot measurements. For example, major reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell hold billions of acre-feet. In agriculture, irrigation districts track water rights and allocations using acre-feet, making it a key component of water law. Its scale is ideal for representing the enormous water needs associated with farming, urban expansion, and environmental preservation.
Picoliter (pL)
A picoliter is 10⁻¹² liters, bridging the gap between femtoliters and nanoliters. Many biological cells—such as yeast—have volumes in the picoliter range. This makes the unit particularly important in cell biology, single-cell genomics, and droplet microfluidics. Inkjet printers famously eject droplets on the order of a few picoliters, illustrating a precise and widespread technological use. This droplet size affects print resolution, color quality, and material deposition accuracy. The picoliter is also used in chemical analysis, micro-sampling, and lab-on-chip devices, where controlling tiny fluid quantities is essential for efficiency and precision.