The spectral shifts and spectral switches of partially coherent electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (PCEGSM) vortex beam in atmospheric turbulence have been investigated. It can be found that the on-axis spectral peak and the off-axis spectral peak of PCEGSM vortex beam will shift rapidly in turbulence with the increase of propagation distance in comparison with PCEGSM non-vortex beam. We find also that the two spectral peaks and three spectral peaks of PCEGSM vortex beam appear in atmospheric turbulence. It is shown that the spectrum of PCEGSM vortex beam in turbulence alternates between redshift and blueshift with increasing propagation distance, the phenomenon is defined as the spectral switches. And it indicates that the spectral shift of PCEGSM vortex beam will be extremely small at a large propagation distance, meaning that the PCEGSM vortex beam has a strong anti-turbulence ability. Our results can provide the theoretical reference for the detection of Doppler lidar.