Based on the meteorological data in the Aral Reclamation Area,Xinjiang during the period from 1961 to 2013,the temporal change of potential evapotranspiration (ET_0) and its affecting factors in desert-oasis zone in the study area were analyzed with the Penman-Monteith model,climate trend rate,Mann-Kendall method and anomaly correlation method. The result are as follows: ① The annual ET_0 fluctuation was high,the decrease range [52.4 mm·(10a)~(- 1)]before 1987 was higher than the increase range[22.2 mm·(10a)~(-1)]after 1987,there was ahigh-low-highdynamic change,and the annual mutation point occurred in 1987; ② Seasonally,ET_0 was in an order of summer ﹥ spring ﹥ autumn ﹥ winter,its decrease ranges[12.7 mm·(10a)~(-1),23.4 mm· (10a)~(-1),6.6 mm·(10a)~(-1) and 9.7 mm·(10a)~(-1)]before 1987 were higher than the increase ones[0.4 mm· (10a)~(-1),14.3 mm·(10a)~(-1),6.4 mm·(10a)~(-1) and 1.1 mm·(10a)~(-1)]after 1987,there was ahigh-lowhigh dynamic change,the increase of ET_0 was the highest in spring after 1987,and the mutation point occurred in 1987; ③ The change of annual ET_0 was closely related to the sunshine duration,average relative humidity and wind speed,but not to temperature. The increased of ET_0 was related to the increase of sunshine duration after 1987. The change of seasonal ET_0 was jointly affected by many meteorological factors,such as sunshine duration, average relative humidity,wind speed and temperature. The increased of ET_0 was related to the increase of temperature and sunshine duration in spring,to the increase of average relative humidity,sunshine duration and the decrease of maximum temperature in winter,and to the increase of sunshine duration in summer and autumn.