Based on the meteorological data of the 105 stations in Northwestern China from 1961 to 2011

the climate change and corresponding response characteristics of wind speed were analyzed by using the methods of linear regression

the Mann-Kendall mutation test. The results showed that the temperature has been rising obviously in Northwestern China in the 51 years and the temperature variation exhibited three periods: the decline period

rising period

and slow rise period; Moreover

the spatial differences of the warming trends were significant. The precipitation showed a decrease trend which experienced remarkable change

stable

and accelerated fluctuations. Meanwhile

the change of the precipitation had an obvious difference between east area and west area. On the whole

the east of the Northwestern China showed a warming and drying trend

the west and the central region presented a trend of relatively warming and wetting. The average wind speed declined at 0.11 m/s per 10 a which increased until 1974

then decreased significantly

and became stable from 1993 to 2011. In addition

the wind speed exhibited spatial differences among the southeastern

western and central of Northwestern China. Furthermore

there was a significant negative correlation between temperature and wind speed.