Water equivalent

Alternative definitions (3), class: vernacular (0)
Term: Water equivalent
Definition: A unit, in full the 'metre [of] water equivalent', that is an extension of the SI for describing glaciermass in specific units as the thickness of an equal mass having the density of water. 1 kg of liquid water, of density w = 1000 kg m-3, has a vertical extent of exactly 1 mm when distributed uniformly over a horizontal area of 1 m2. More formally, the metre water equivalent (m w. E.) Is obtained by dividing a particular mass per unit area by the density of water:1 m w. E. = 1000 kg m-2 / w . Water equivalents (m w. E.) Can be converted to kg m-2 by multiplying by the density of water, and to ice equivalents (m ice eq.) By multiplying by the density of water and dividing by the density of ice.
Created 2022.03.08
Last Modified 2023.03.27
Contributed by GCW Glossary
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