Central Asian modulation of Northern Hemisphere moisture transfer over the Late Cenozoic

Abstract Earth’s climatic evolution over the last 5 million years is primarily understood from perspective of marine mechanisms, however, role terrestrial feedbacks remains largely unexplored. Here we reconstruct soil moisture variability in Central Asia using paleomagnetism data and isotope geochemistry an 80 m-thick sedimentary succession at Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan. We identify a long-term trend increasing aridification throughout period, along with shorter-term related to interaction between mid-latitude westerlies Siberian high-pressure system. This record highlights contribution Eurasian systems modulation transfer into Northern Hemisphere oceans back onto land via westerly air flow. The response Earth-surface dynamics Plio-Pleistocene change likely generated affecting ocean atmospheric circulation. missing link elucidates significance land-water for global climate.