Gigalitres to Cubic Centimeters conversion

How to convert gigalitres to cubic centimeters?

Sure! First, let's clarify the units and the conversion process.

Units and Conversion

1 Gigalitre (GL) is a metric unit of volume equivalent to 1 billion liters (1,000,000,000 liters).

Since 1 liter is equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (cm³), we can use this relationship to convert gigalitres to cubic centimeters.

Step-by-Step Conversion

1. Convert Gigalitres to Liters: $1 \text{ GL} = 1,000,000,000 \text{ liters}$

2. Convert Liters to Cubic Centimeters: $1 \text{ liter} = 1,000 \text{ cm}^3$

3. Combine the Two Steps: $1 \text{ GL} = 1,000,000,000 \text{ liters} \times 1,000 \text{ cm}^3/\text{liter} = 1,000,000,000,000 \text{ cm}^3$

   Therefore: $1 \text{ GL} = 1,000,000,000,000 \text{ cm}^3$

Real World Examples of Gigalitres

• Reservoirs and Dams: The capacity of large reservoirs and dams is often measured in gigalitres. For instance, the Hoover Dam reservoir (Lake Mead) can hold about 35,200 GL of water when full.

• Lake Volumes: Large lakes can have volumes measured in gigalitres. Lake Ontario, for example, holds approximately 1,639,000 GL of water.

• Annual Water Usage: The annual water usage of a large city can be in gigalitres. For example, Los Angeles uses around 2,000 GL of water per year.

• Environmental Management: Environmental agencies might measure the total volume of water flowing through a river system annually in gigalitres.

Understanding gigalitres in these contexts can help emphasize the scale of water management and environmental science issues.