Abstract: In this paper, the spatiotemporal and sharp changes of average annual and seasonal temperature and precipitation in the Hedong region of Gansu Province in recent 54 years were analyzed based on the temperature and precipitation data collected from 26 meteorological stations during the period from 1957 to 2010. The results were as follows: the temperature was significantly increased by 0.26 ℃/decade in the Hedong region, especially since the 1990s, and its curve was unimodal; On the whole, average annual temperature was spatially in an increase trend, especially in the northern and central regions of the east Gansu Plateau. Seasonal temperature was also in an increase trend, especially in winter. Average annual precipitation was decreased by 12.01 mm/10 a in recent 54 years, and its curve was unimodal. There was an obvious difference in seasonal precipitation: summer precipitation was the highest, followed by spring one, and winter one was the least. Spatially, precipitation was in a decrease trend in the most regions, and especially the decrease in the southeast was more significant than that in the northwest. In addition, it was found that a sharp change of temperature occurred in the Hedong region in 1997. On the contrary, the abrupt change in precipitation was not obvious. The influence of temperature increase and precipitation decrease in agricultural production was also discussed. It is necessary to strengthen the research work, propose the appropriate measures, make full use of the positive factors, and control and reduce the negative factors. It is considered that the agricultural development in the Hedong region will be sustained and stabilized.

Key words: climate change, air temperature, precipitation, sharp climate change, agricultural production, Gansu Province