Abstract
Typhoon 0415 (T0415, MEGI) passed through the Sea of Japan coast of Hokuriku and Tohoku Districts on August 19-20, 2004. A gust of wind stronger than 30m/s was recorded in the coastal region, and a gust of wind at 38.3 m/s, 39.6 m/s, and 41.1 m/s was observed in Aikawa, Sakata, and Akita, respectively. However, there was little rainfall before and after the passage of the typhoon. Consequently, the adhering salt entered the rice plant, and salty wind damage occurred by drying up the cells. Near the seashore, 2.7-3.2mg salt had adhered to the panicle, and the amount of salt adhesion per panicle (mg/panicle) negatively correlated with the distance from the seashore. The total amount of the agricultural damage by T0415 was 18 billion yen, 10,200 million yen, and 7,200 million yen in Akita Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, and Niigata Prefecture, respectively. The amount of rice damage occupied three fourths of the whole crop. The ratio to normal year of the rice yield fell greatly in Akita Prefecture (Kisakata cho, southern prefecture coast area) and Niigata Prefecture (Sado city). In the Niigata Sado area and the Akita Honjo area, the quality of rice deteriorated remarkably.
