How many cubic feet are in 1 acre foot?

One acre foot represents a volume of water that covers one acre of area to a depth of one foot. To understand why 1 acre foot is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet, consider the following:

An acre is defined as a unit of area that equals 43,560 square feet. Therefore, when you have a depth of one foot of water covering this area, you multiply the area by the depth. The calculation is straightforward:

1 acre foot = 43,560 square feet (area) × 1 foot (depth) = 43,560 cubic feet.

This important measurement is often used in water resource management to quantify large volumes of water, especially in agricultural and irrigation contexts. Understanding the volume represented by an acre foot is crucial for making informed decisions about water usage and conservation.