Abstract: According to the temperature data at 65 weather stations from 1960 to 2008 in Shanxi province, the characteristics of air temperature change were analyzed using the methods of a linear trend analysis, a moving average and a wavelet analysis. The results indicated that the annual average air temperature and seasonal air temperature are in the increasing trends, and their tendency rates are 0.25 ℃/decade, 0.31 ℃ / decade, 0.04 ℃ / decade, 0.19 ℃ / decade and 0.43℃/ decade. There is a 15-year quasi-cycle and a 5-10 years cycle for the annual mean air temperature and autumn air temperate, respectively. The cycles of spring and summer air temperature are mainly 5-10 years, while the cycle of winter air temperature is 15 years. There exist the abrupt changes for the annual mean air temperature, spring and winter air temperature. Their abrupt changes occur in 1993, 1997 and 1988, respectively.

Key words: Air temperature, Change cycle, Trend analysis, Shanxi province