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The recent summer surface air temperature (SAT) changes over densely populated Eurasia exhibit a non‐uniform pattern with amplified warming over Europe and East Asia (EA) but weak warming over Central Asia (CA), forming a wave train‐like structure. However, the key factors that determine this non‐uniform warming pattern remain unclear. By analyzing observations and model simulations, here, we show that more than half of the SAT multidecadal variations from 1950 to 2014 over Europe‐west Asia and EA may have resulted from external forcing, rather than from internal variability in the Atlantic as previously thought. In contrast, the recent SAT over CA is influenced mainly by internal variations in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Large ensemble model simulations suggest that the forced SAT multidecadal variations over Eurasia are mainly caused by changes in greenhouse gases and aerosols. Our findings provide strong evidence for major impacts of external forcing on multidecadal climate variations over Eurasia. Plain Language Summary: Previous studies have documented non‐uniform decadal warming rates in summer since the mid‐1990s over densely populated Eurasia, with amplified warming over Europe and East Asia (EA) but weak warming over Central Asia. This unique tripole warming pattern and its cause have attracted considerable attention. It may arise from internal variability (IV; e.g., Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation [AMO]) and/or external forcing. Furthermore, it was found that the recent AMO resulted from both IV and decadal changes in aerosols. Thus, the relative contributions of IV and external forcing to the recent Eurasian warming pattern remain unclear. Here we show that the surface air temperature multidecadal variations since 1950 over Eurasia are caused by both IV and external forcing, with more than half of the variations over Europe‐west Asia and EA resulted from external forcing (i.e., greenhouse gases [GHGs] and aerosols), in contrast to the previous notion that the non‐uniform warming is mainly originated from the Atlantic Ocean. Looking ahead into the upcoming decades, aerosols will continue to decrease, whereas the AMO will likely be in its positive phase. These changes, together with continued increases in GHGs, will accelerate warming trends over Eurasia and further exacerbate summer heat waves. Key Points: More than half of the multidecadal surface air temperature (SAT) variations from 1950 to 2014 over Europe‐west Asia and East Asia resulted from external forcingThe forced SAT multidecadal variations over Eurasia are mainly caused by changes in greenhouse gases and aerosolsOur study helps reconcile human and natural drivers of the tripole pattern of multidecadal summer temperature variations over Eurasia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Asia witnessed progressive aridification during the Miocene, commonly related to mountain uplift, the Paratethys retreat and global climate cooling. However, the formation of Miocene lakes in Central Asia seems to oppose drier conditions, suggesting that the precise timing, extent and forcing of the aridification is still not well constrained. This study presents a facies model for the alluvial–lacustrine part of the Middle to Late Miocene of the Ili Basin, obtained from two successions. The model enables the semi‐quantitative assessment of regional water level and salinity, and characterizes the control of water level on evaporite formation and diagenesis. Both the proximal Kendyrlisai and the distal Aktau successions show an overall increase in water availability from dry mudflat deposits to lacustrine sedimentation with a transitional playa phase. Increasing evaporation rates outpaced the water supply and caused groundwater salinization. Subsequent lake expansion coincided with a basin‐wide desalinization and required a shift to a positive water budget. A climatic control of the hydrological evolution is inferred due to abrupt salinization and a minor tectonic influence. The long‐term water accumulation is probably related to the hydrological closure of the basin in the early Middle Miocene (15·3 Ma). Starting at 14·3 Ma, the step‐wise salinization occurred simultaneously with the global cooling of the Miocene Climate Transition. The Miocene Climate Transition led to extreme aridity in the Ili Basin, highlighted by the early diagenetic formation of displacive anhydrite in the basin centre. The expansion of the freshwater lake (12·7 to 11·5 Ma) was possibly promoted by lower evaporation rates due to decreasing air temperatures in the Ili Basin after the Miocene Climate Transition. The extreme aridity in the Ili Basin is interpreted as a continental counterpart to the Badenian Salinity Crisis in the Central Paratethys. This emphasizes the role of atmospheric forcing on evaporite sedimentation across Eurasia during the Middle Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]