Researchers from a number of institutions are in the Four Corners region of the United States with some ground-based instruments and airborne. Their motive is to determine the reasons for mysterious methane ‘hotspot’ detected from space. Now, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has also joined in effort to understand the presence of methane hotspot in the region.

Last year, researchers had found that an area around the Four Corners intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah had the highest concentration of methane. Since then, the methane hotspot was mystery to the researchers. As per reports, the hotspot was first seen from space by a satellite, which is managed by European Space Agency (ESA).

Christian Frankenberg of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said, “With all the ground-based and airborne resources that the diverse groups are bringing to the region, we have the one of a kind opportunity to unequivocally solve the Four Corners mystery”.

A study, which was published last year, stated that methane levels in the region were higher than any other place in the world. According to the study, the methane hotspot persisted from 2003 to 2009. NASA officials believe that high levels of methane in the Four Corners region could be due to extraction of methane in the region. The process of extraction involves pumping water, sand and chemicals, which leads to release of natural gas.

According to some theories, active coal mines and natural gas seeps could be another reason for gas release in the region. As per reports, the amount of harmful gas releases in the region is equal to about 10% of all methane released across the country.

The reports further stated that two of Twin Otter aircraft could soon fly over the area in order to better comprehend how the methane hotspot formed.