利用FAO Penman-Monteith方程和青藏高原及周边地区274个气象站逐日常规观测资料，结合中国生态地理分区方案，对1970—2017年高原及周边地区潜在蒸散发的空间格局及突变特征进行分析。结果表明：\mathrm{①}除夏季和冬季外，研究区多年平均年和季节潜在蒸散发都呈现南北高、中部低的空间分布；月潜在蒸散发最大值和最小值发生时间表现出南早北晚的纬向差异。\mathrm{②}研究区潜在蒸散发均值和趋势突变显著，但突变时间在区域间以及年和不同季节间均存在较大差异。其中，均值突变以正向突变为主，高原突变时间春季最早、冬季最晚；趋势突变主要表现为先降后升，高原年、春季、秋季和冬季潜在蒸散发的趋势转折时间由东北向西南推迟，至西南地区分别推迟约20、10、20和5年。比较而言，高原总体潜在蒸散发趋势转折时间较其周边地区滞后，年和四季分别推迟约5、1、12、5和4年。\mathrm{③}显著的蒸发悖论只离散地存在于研究区内，主要发生在趋势转折（2007年）之前。研究结果可为进一步认识全球变暖背景下青藏高原及周边地区气候变化和生态水文过程提供科学依据。

Daily routine observation data from 274 meteorological stations in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas from 1970 to 2017 were utilized to examine the spatial patterns and abrupt changes of potential evapotranspiration with the formula of FAO Penman-Monteith, in consideration of China’s eco-geographical divisions. The results showed that \mathrm{①} annual and seasonal average potential evapotranspiration, except for summer and winter, displayed a distinct spatial pattern in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas, with higher values in the north and south but lower values in the middle; the time when monthly potential evapotranspiration reached its maximum or minimum showed clearly zonal differences, namely earlier in the south and later in the north. \mathrm{②} The prevailing mean and trend abrupt changes of potential evapotranspiration were observed in the study area, while there were large differences in the abrupt change time in different regions and seasons. Specifically, the mean abrupt change was dominated by positive mutation, with generally the earliest abrupt change time occurring in spring and the latest appearing in winter; the trend abrupt change pattern was mainly described as the process shifting from a downward trend to an upward trend, the trend change points in year, spring, autumn and winter were postponed gradually from the northeast to the southwest with a delay of about 20, 10, 20 and 5 years, respectively. Comparatively, the abrupt change time of potential evapotranspiration trend in the whole plateau was later than that in the whole buffer zone, with a respective lag of 5, 1, 12, 5 and 4 years. \mathrm{③} Corresponding to the periodic change of potential evapotranspiration, significant evaporation paradox only scattered through the study area during the period before the trend change point (2007), but it was absent afterwards and would not appear in the future. The above findings will provide a scientific basis for further understanding the climate change and eco-hydrological process of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas in global warming.