What Is This Tool?
This converter helps transform values measured in acre-foot per year, a long-term volumetric flow rate, into cubic foot per second, an instantaneous flow rate commonly used in engineering and hydrology. It supports professionals in water resource management and related fields.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the flow rate value in acre-foot/year.
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Select the target unit as cubic foot/second.
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Click convert to see the equivalent instantaneous flow rate.
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Use the result for engineering design, water allocation, or hydrology analysis.
Key Features
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Converts flow from acre-foot per year to cubic foot per second accurately.
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Browser-based unit converter requiring no installation.
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Includes detailed unit definitions and common applications.
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Supports quick and easy flow rate translations for engineering or hydrologic use.
Examples
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10 acre-foot/year converts to 0.013812841 cubic foot/second.
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100 acre-foot/year converts to 0.13812841 cubic foot/second.
Common Use Cases
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Water-resources planning and reservoir yield management.
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Allocating water rights for irrigation districts.
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Municipal water-supply accounting and forecasting demand.
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Reporting river discharge and streamflow in hydrology.
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Designing pumps and irrigation systems based on flow rates.
Tips & Best Practices
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Use the tool to translate annual volumetric flows into instantaneous flow rates for better engineering application.
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Understand that acre-foot/year represents an average yearly rate and may not reflect short-term fluctuations.
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Combine this conversion with site-specific data when designing hydraulic systems.
Limitations
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Acre-foot/year provides an average over a year and may not capture seasonal or daily flow variations.
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Conversion assumes steady flow, which might not be accurate in all practical scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is an acre-foot per year?
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It is a flow rate representing one acre-foot of volume delivered or used over one year, where one acre-foot is the volume covering one acre to a depth of one foot.
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Why convert acre-foot/year to cubic foot/second?
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Converting to cubic foot/second allows expressing long-term water volumes as instantaneous flow rates useful in engineering and hydrologic applications.
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Can this conversion capture seasonal changes in flow?
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No, since acre-foot/year averages flow over a year, it does not reflect seasonal or daily variations in flow rates.
Key Terminology
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Acre-foot/year [ac*ft/y]
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A flow rate unit representing the delivery or use of one acre-foot of water volume over a period of one year.
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Cubic foot/second [ft^3/s]
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An imperial unit of volumetric flow rate indicating one cubic foot of fluid passing a point each second.
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Volumetric flow rate
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The volume of fluid that passes through a surface per unit time, commonly used in hydrology and engineering.