1. plural of gigaton: units of measurement equal to one billion tons, typically used to measure explosive force or large quantities of materials
Usage: scientific; technical

Examples

• The asteroid impact released energy equivalent to millions of gigatons of TNT.
• Scientists estimate that gigatons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere annually.
• The nuclear arsenal contained weapons measured in gigatons of explosive power.
• Gigatons of ice have melted from the polar ice caps in recent decades.
• The volcanic eruption ejected several gigatons of ash and debris into the atmosphere.
• Researchers calculated that gigatons of plastic waste have accumulated in the oceans.