How much water is represented by one acre-foot?

One acre-foot is defined as the volume of water needed to cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot. This measurement is commonly used in water resource management to quantify large amounts of water, particularly in agriculture and municipal water usage. An acre is a unit of area that is equal to 43,560 square feet. Therefore, one acre-foot is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet of water.

This definition is crucial for understanding water usage and allocation in various contexts, such as irrigation and reservoir management. Knowing how much water an acre-foot represents allows for more effective planning and utilization of water resources.

The other options do not accurately describe an acre-foot since they either reference a greater depth of water or adjust the area incorrectly, leading to confusion in precise water measurement. Only the second option correctly aligns with the established definition of an acre-foot.