The gigalitre (GL) is a volumetric unit equivalent to one billion litres, often used to measure water resources on a large scale. To put this into perspective, a gigalitre of water could fill approximately 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools! This unit is crucial in managing and understanding global water sources, especially in regions facing water scarcity.
Interestingly, the Snowy Mountains Scheme in Australia, one of the largest engineering projects in the world, diverts roughly 4,000 gigalitres of water annually, illustrating just how expansive the potential application of this unit can be. By using measurements like the gigalitre, governments and scientists can communicate more effectively about water reserves, helping to support sustainable water management and planning across diverse environments.
The litre (or liter) is a fascinating metric unit of volume predominantly used for measuring liquids. Curiously, while it is synonymous with the metric litre, it is not an official unit in the International System of Units (SI); instead, it is accepted for use with the SI due to its practicality. Originally defined as the volume of one kilogram of water at maximum density, the litre provides a tangible connection between volume and weight, emphasizing the interrelationship of these physical properties.
Despite its widespread application in everyday life, such as in beverages and fuels, the litre’s versatility extends beyond terrestrial boundaries. It plays a crucial role in astrobiology, where scientists explore celestial bodies for signs of water, often in volumes measured by litres or their scientific counterpart, cubic decimetres. Whether quenching thirst or exploring the cosmos, the litre connects us to the natural world in multifaceted ways.
| Gigalitres | Litres |
|---|---|
0
Gl
|
0
l
|
0.1
Gl
|
1e+8
l
|
0.2
Gl
|
2e+8
l
|
0.3
Gl
|
3e+8
l
|
0.4
Gl
|
4e+8
l
|
0.5
Gl
|
5e+8
l
|
0.6
Gl
|
6e+8
l
|
0.7
Gl
|
7e+8
l
|
0.8
Gl
|
8e+8
l
|
0.9
Gl
|
9e+8
l
|
1
Gl
|
1e+9
l
|
1.1
Gl
|
1.1e+9
l
|
1.2
Gl
|
1.2e+9
l
|
1.3
Gl
|
1.3e+9
l
|
1.4
Gl
|
1.4e+9
l
|
1.5
Gl
|
1.5e+9
l
|
1.6
Gl
|
1.6e+9
l
|
1.7
Gl
|
1.7e+9
l
|
1.8
Gl
|
1.8e+9
l
|
1.9
Gl
|
1.9e+9
l
|
2
Gl
|
2e+9
l
|
2.1
Gl
|
2.1e+9
l
|
2.2
Gl
|
2.2e+9
l
|
2.3
Gl
|
2.3e+9
l
|
2.4
Gl
|
2.4e+9
l
|
2.5
Gl
|
2.5e+9
l
|
2.6
Gl
|
2.6e+9
l
|
2.7
Gl
|
2.7e+9
l
|
2.8
Gl
|
2.8e+9
l
|
2.9
Gl
|
2.9e+9
l
|
3
Gl
|
3e+9
l
|
3.1
Gl
|
3.1e+9
l
|
3.2
Gl
|
3.2e+9
l
|
3.3
Gl
|
3.3e+9
l
|
3.4
Gl
|
3.4e+9
l
|
3.5
Gl
|
3.5e+9
l
|
3.6
Gl
|
3.6e+9
l
|
3.7
Gl
|
3.7e+9
l
|
3.8
Gl
|
3.8e+9
l
|
3.9
Gl
|
3.9e+9
l
|
4
Gl
|
4e+9
l
|
4.1
Gl
|
4.1e+9
l
|
4.2
Gl
|
4.2e+9
l
|
4.3
Gl
|
4.3e+9
l
|
4.4
Gl
|
4.4e+9
l
|
4.5
Gl
|
4.5e+9
l
|
4.6
Gl
|
4.6e+9
l
|
4.7
Gl
|
4.7e+9
l
|
4.8
Gl
|
4.8e+9
l
|
4.9
Gl
|
4.9e+9
l
|
5
Gl
|
5e+9
l
|
5.1
Gl
|
5.1e+9
l
|
5.2
Gl
|
5.2e+9
l
|
5.3
Gl
|
5.3e+9
l
|
5.4
Gl
|
5.4e+9
l
|
5.5
Gl
|
5.5e+9
l
|
5.6
Gl
|
5.6e+9
l
|
5.7
Gl
|
5.7e+9
l
|
5.8
Gl
|
5.8e+9
l
|
5.9
Gl
|
5.9e+9
l
|
6
Gl
|
6e+9
l
|
6.1
Gl
|
6.1e+9
l
|
6.2
Gl
|
6.2e+9
l
|
6.3
Gl
|
6.3e+9
l
|
6.4
Gl
|
6.4e+9
l
|
6.5
Gl
|
6.5e+9
l
|
6.6
Gl
|
6.6e+9
l
|
6.7
Gl
|
6.7e+9
l
|
6.8
Gl
|
6.8e+9
l
|
6.9
Gl
|
6.9e+9
l
|
7
Gl
|
7e+9
l
|
7.1
Gl
|
7.1e+9
l
|
7.2
Gl
|
7.2e+9
l
|
7.3
Gl
|
7.3e+9
l
|
7.4
Gl
|
7.4e+9
l
|
7.5
Gl
|
7.5e+9
l
|
7.6
Gl
|
7.6e+9
l
|
7.7
Gl
|
7.7e+9
l
|
7.8
Gl
|
7.8e+9
l
|
7.9
Gl
|
7.9e+9
l
|
8
Gl
|
8e+9
l
|
8.1
Gl
|
8.1e+9
l
|
8.2
Gl
|
8.2e+9
l
|
8.3
Gl
|
8.3e+9
l
|
8.4
Gl
|
8.4e+9
l
|
8.5
Gl
|
8.5e+9
l
|
8.6
Gl
|
8.6e+9
l
|
8.7
Gl
|
8.7e+9
l
|
8.8
Gl
|
8.8e+9
l
|
8.9
Gl
|
8.9e+9
l
|
9
Gl
|
9e+9
l
|
9.1
Gl
|
9.1e+9
l
|
9.2
Gl
|
9.2e+9
l
|
9.3
Gl
|
9.3e+9
l
|
9.4
Gl
|
9.4e+9
l
|
9.5
Gl
|
9.5e+9
l
|
9.6
Gl
|
9.6e+9
l
|
9.7
Gl
|
9.7e+9
l
|
9.8
Gl
|
9.8e+9
l
|
9.9
Gl
|
9.9e+9
l
|
10
Gl
|
1e+10
l
|
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