Abstract: Based on the observational data from three meteorological stations in Xianning from 1960 to 2009, the annual, seasonal and inter-decadal variation trends of the main climatic elements such as air temperature and precipitation were analyzed. The results indicate that air temperature is in an increasing trend in recent 50 years in the study area, and the climatic tendency rate is 0.23 ℃/decade. There is an abrupt change in the late of 1990s for the mean annual air temperature. For the seasonal air temperature, the abrupt changes in spring, autumn, summer and winter occur in 2002, 1999, 2006 and 1990 respectively. The changes of the mean air temperature in spring and autumn are consistent. The response of winter air temperature to the global warming is the most sensitive, and then spring and autumn air temperatures, while the response of summer air temperature to the global warming is not sensitive. Precipitation fluctuates in recent 50 years, while its change in trend is not significant. Spring and summer precipitations are in the decreasing trends and the both dominate the changes of annual precipitation, while winter precipitation is in an increasing trend. By comparison of changes in air temperature and precipitation trends, it has been found that the response of these variables to the climate change is the most significant in winter, and the responses in other seasons are not significant.

Key words: Air temperature, Precipitation, Climate tendency rate, Abrupt climate change