Wind is one of the main driving forces of soil wind erosion

effecting surface heat balance and water circulation. Based on wind speed data collected at 12 stations in wind erosion area of Loess Plateau during 1957-2009

accumulation deviation from average and Mann) Kendall test were used to analyze the characteristics of average wind velocity

maximum wind speed and days of air-suspended sands(DTS

wind velocity>6 m/s). T he results show that Guyuan and Yanchi Counties had the highest averages wind speed and Hequ County has the lowest. Counties of Guyuan

Henshan

and Suide had the most days of air-suspended sand. The annual average speeds at three stations

i.e.

Jingyuan County of Gansu Province

Yinchuan City of Ningxia Hui Autonoumous Region and Suide County of Shaanxi Province exhibited a linear increasing trend during the period

but showed decreasing trend at other stations. The annual maximum wind speeds of the study area decreased in the whole period. The annual maximum wind speeds were mostly found in April or May

when soil wind erosion occurred easily because of the tillage and low vegetation coverage at the early spring. T he most DT Ss were found in May and more DT Ss were recorded at Guyuan

Hengshan and Suide Counties are more than at the other areas.