Convert Cubic Kilometer (km³) to Acre-Foot (ac*ft) instantly.
About these units
Cubic Kilometer (km³)
A cubic kilometer represents one billion cubic meters, making it a colossal volume unit used in geology, hydrology, glaciology, and planetary science. Large lakes, ice sheets, magma chambers, and atmospheric water content are often measured in km³. Earth's total ocean volume—about 1.335 billion km³—illustrates the unit's utility in describing planetary-scale systems. The km³ gives scientists a manageable number when dealing with natural features too massive for cubic meters or liters to express conveniently.
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.