ACRE FOOT Meaning and
Definition
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An acre foot is a unit of measurement commonly used in the field of water management and hydrology. It refers to the amount of water necessary to cover an area of one acre to a depth of one foot. This unit is primarily employed to quantify large volumes of water, especially in relation to water storage, irrigation, and reservoir capacity.
To comprehend the volume represented by an acre foot, it is crucial to know the dimensions of an acre. An acre is a unit of land area equivalent to 43,560 square feet. Therefore, when one foot of water covers an acre, it amounts to precisely 43,560 cubic feet of water or, equivalently, approximately 325,851 gallons.
The acre foot measurement holds particular importance in water resource management, particularly in contexts such as irrigation planning and allocation, dam and reservoir capacity calculations, and water rights determination. Due to its large quantity, an acre foot provides a meaningful and convenient metric for evaluating water supplies as well as assessing the needs and demands of various agricultural, municipal, or industrial water users.
In summary, an acre foot is a unit used to quantify the volume of water covering an acre area to a depth of one foot. It is a vital measurement in water management, providing a practical reference point for assessing and planning water resources.
Etymology of ACRE FOOT
The term "acre-foot" comes from a combination of two units of measurement: "acre" and "foot".
1. Acre: The word "acre" derives from the Old English word "æcer", which means "field" or "piece of land". It has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "akraz", indicating a cultivated land. This measurement unit has been used for centuries to represent a specific area of land.
2. Foot: The word "foot" refers to a unit of length and has ancient origins. It originates from the Old English word "fōt", related to similar words in Germanic and Norse languages. It is thought to trace back to the Proto-Indo-European word "pod", meaning "foot".
Combining these two terms, an "acre foot" is a measurement unit used in resource management, particularly in water supply and irrigation.
