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Determining the controls on aeolian dust emissions from major sources is necessary for reliable quantification of atmospheric aerosol concentrations and fluxes. However, ground‐based measurements of dust emissions at‐source are rare and of generally short duration, failing to capture the annual cycle. Here, we provide new insights into dust dynamics by measuring aerosol concentrations and meteorological conditions for a full year (July 2015–June 2016) at Etosha Pan, Namibia, a globally significant dust source. Surface deployed field instrumentation provided 10‐min averaged data on meteorological conditions, aerosol concentration (mg/m3), and horizontal dust flux (g/m2/min10). A Doppler lidar provided additional data for some of the period. 51 significant dust events were identified in response to strong E‐ENE winds. We demonstrate that these events occurred throughout the year and were not restricted to the austral winter, as previously indicated by satellite observations. Peak horizontal flux occurred in the spring (November) due to strengthening erosive winds and highly desiccating conditions increasing surface erodibility. We identify a strong seasonal differentiation in the meteorological mechanisms controlling dust uplift; low‐level jets on dry winter mornings (61% of all events), and cold pool outflows in humid summer evenings (39% of events). Significantly, we demonstrate a very strong bias toward the contribution of low frequency and high magnitude events, with nearly 31% of annual horizontal dust flux generated by only 6 individual events. Our study demonstrates how longer‐term (≈1 year), ground‐based, and at‐source field measurements can radically improve interpretations of dust event dynamics and controls at major source locations. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric dust is important because it affects climate, human health, and nutrient distribution. Most atmospheric dust is sourced from dry lake beds in deserts and much of our understanding of dust emission comes from satellite observations. Few field studies have measured dust emission from such sources for more than a few months and so our understanding of the processes that govern dust emission is partial. We measured dust concentrations and associated meteorological conditions for a full year at Etosha Pan in Namibia, a major source of dust globally. We found that dust emission occurred throughout the year, not just in winter as had previously been thought. Our data showed that the meteorological mechanisms controlling dust emission changed seasonally. In dry winter mornings dust was eroded by jets of fast‐moving winds soon after sunrise. In summer, emission occurred in the late evenings due to high‐speed winds associated with the development of convective storms. Further, dust emission was dominated by high magnitude and low frequency events. Our field data demonstrate the seasonal complexity in the controlling mechanisms of dust emission which need to be accounted for in calculations of atmospheric dust loading. Key Points: Ground‐based data show aeolian dust emissions occur throughout the year, not restricted to winter as indicated by satellite observationsEmissions are largely driven by low‐level jets in the dry winter, and by cold pool outflows in the more humid summerThe magnitude of emissions is dominated by only a few events, with six events accounting for nearly 31% of all horizontal dust flux [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]