Abstract: In this paper,the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of sandstorm were analyzed by using the 39 years sandstorm data from 1961 to 1999 recorded at 90 weather stations in Xinjiang.The following results are obtained:(1) Sandstorm occurred more frequently in south Xinjiang rather than in north,more in basin bottom rather than in mountain areas.The most frequently occurred region of sandstorm is in the two large deserts in north and south of Xinjiang;moreover,the sandstorm occurred more often in the southern part of the desert than in the others.(2) Sandstorm occurred more frequently in 1960s and in 1970s,and has decreased since 1990.(3) Sandstorm mostly occurred from April to August,seldom from October to March of the next year.As for a day,it occurred more frequently from 16 to 21 o'clock,and the persisting time of majority sandstorm was under 60 minutes in North Xinjiang and 90 minutes in South Xinjiang.

Key words: sandstorm, distribution of sandstorm, daily variation, persisting time