Arizona’s extreme desert heat may be causing vegetation to release more emissions into the atmosphere and worsening ozone pollution. ASU researchers are examining the situation. Matthew Fraser, a professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Fulton Schools, and an expert in urban air quality, air pollution control and atmospheric monitoring instruments, says unique interactions between vegetation and desert environments may be triggering the problem. The plan is to place sensors and other instruments in various Phoenix area locations to provide data for devising solutions to the problem. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is helping to fund the project.