Abstract:Using the thunderstorm data of 41 meteorological stations in the Qinghai Plate au during 1961-2007, and the statistical methods of trend coefficient, the rate of tendency, absolute rate of change and sliding t test, the temporal and spat ial d istribution characteristics, the trend of climate change and oscillation cycle o f the thunderstorm are analyzed. The results have shown that: ① The total trend of t hunderstorm has been decreasing in the Qinghai Plateau in the recent 47 years, b ut there exist the differences in some areas. When the thunderstorm in some area s o ccurs frequently, the decrease trend is more obvious there. However, it is not o bvious in the Qaidam Basin with the least thunderstorm activity, even a slight increase. ② The begin ning day of thunderstorm is delayed sig nificantly, the last day of thunderstorm is significantly ahead of normal condit ion, thus the period of annual thunderstorm is shortened. ③ The thunderstorm oc curs earliest in southern Qinghai Plateau, and ends latest, while it occurs late st in the Qaidam Basin and ends earliest. ④ The d ays of annual thunderstorm show an abrupt change in 2000, it has a quasi period i c oscillation of 5 years, lightning and rainstorm disasters have been increasing after the mid 1980s.