Convert Cubic Decimeter (dm³) to Gigaliter (GL) instantly.
About these units
Cubic Decimeter (dm³)
A cubic decimeter is defined as 1 liter, since it is the volume of a cube 10 centimeters per side. Though equivalent to the liter, dm³ is often used in engineering and physics because it fits neatly into the SI geometric framework. This unit is convenient when working with densities (kg/dm³), where the equivalence of 1 dm³ and 1 L simplifies many calculations involving fluids and materials. While the liter dominates everyday usage, the cubic decimeter is favored in technical contexts where a strong geometric interpretation is needed—for example, in tank sizing, volumetric flow calculations, or experiments involving water displacement.
Gigaliter (GL)
A gigaliter equals one billion liters or one million cubic meters. It is widely used when discussing very large natural or artificial water systems. Countries quantify national water reserves, lake capacities, and large-scale water transfers in gigaliters. For example, major reservoirs, such as those used for hydroelectric power generation, often have volumes in the tens of gigaliters. Environmental scientists use GL to describe groundwater extraction, rainfall totals across large regions, and freshwater availability. The GL helps quantify planetary-scale hydrological processes in a manageable numerical range.