This $800,565 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) supports research by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Scripps Institution of Oceanography to explore the meteorological drivers of global mineral dust emissions. The project will leverage high-resolution climate model simulations to investigate the role of two key wind event types - downslope windstorms and haboobs - in generating atmospheric dust, and incorporate the findings into an advanced Earth system model to assess the potential climatic impacts of changing dust concentrations. The research aims to improve understanding of the connections between small-scale atmospheric dynamics, dust emissions, and the broader climate system. In addition, the award provides support for a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher, contributing to workforce development in this field. The project also includes a collaboration with the San Diego County Office of Education to create science teaching activities for California high school teachers.