In　this　study,　the　influence　of　distance　between　the　focusing　lens　and　target　surface　on　the　plasma　temperature　of　copper　induced　by　a　Nd:　YAG　laser　was　investigated　in　the　atmosphere.　The　plasma　temperature　was　calculated　by　using　the　Cu　(I)　lines　(510.55　nm,　515.32　nm,　and　521.82　nm).　The　Cu　(I)　lines　were　recorded　under　different　lens-to-sample　distances　and　laser　pulse　energies　(15.8　mJ,　27.0　mJ,　43.4　mJ,　59.2　mJ,　and　76.8　mJ).　The　results　indicated　that　the　plasma　temperature　depended　strongly　on　the　distance　between　the　focusing　lens　and　target　surface.　With　the　increase　in　the　distance,　the　plasma　temperature　firstly　rose,　and　then　dropped.　This　could　be　attributed　to　the　interaction　between　the　tailing　of　the　nanosecond　laser　pulse　and　the　front　portion　of　the　plasma　plume,　the　plasma　shielding　effect,　and　the　expanding　of　the　plasma.　In　addition,　there　was　an　interesting　phenomenon　that　the　plasma　temperature　and　the　emission　intensity　were　not　completely　consistent　with　the　change　of　the　lens-to-sample　distance.　It　is　hoped　that　our　research　will　provide　a　deeper　insight　into　the　underlying　physical　processes.　Published　by　AIP　Publishing.