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Glite Dictionary
mgal

mgal

1 9.9
A very small unit scientists use to measure changes in Earth's gravity
  • noun
  • Specialized
: mgal
  • The geophysicist recorded a gravity change of 10 mgal after the earthquake.

Examples

  • The study reported that the state consumed approximately 350 Mgal of water daily for agricultural purposes.

  • During the drought, the city limited water usage to 200 Mgal per day to conserve resources.

  • Measurements in mgal help scientists detect subtle variations in Earth's gravity field.

  • A difference of just a few mgal can indicate important geological structures underground.

  • The measurement was recorded in mgals.

  • A change of 1 mgal can indicate tectonic activity.

  • In urban areas, daily water consumption can reach up to 450 Mgal, highlighting the need for sustainable practices.

Surface Forms

mgal singular
mgals plural

Morphology

mgal = gal (transparent) = m + gal

Formed by the standard SI prefix 'm-' (milli-, one-thousandth) attached to the unit 'gal', so the meaning is directly 'one-thousandth of a gal'.

Etymology

Mgal is short for milli- + gal, where milli- means 'one thousandth' as in millimeter, and gal is named after the scientist Galileo, who studied motion and gravity. So an mgal is a very small unit of acceleration, one thousandth of a gal, used in geophysics to measure tiny changes in Earth's gravity.