U.S. Four Corners of Methane Hot Spot Mystery being Looked into by Scientists

There is a mass of dangerous methane found at the four hot spots of the United States where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet and various scientists are looking for the source according to the China Topix news.

The four states collectively called "Four Corners" have been under study and researchers from the University of Michigan and NASA have revealed that these states are currently producing the biggest and strange concentration of methane gas.  It is a greenhouse gas meaning it is more dangerous than carbon dioxide which also leads to global warming.

In line with this, NASA has deployed their special planes carrying Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) and the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRISng) which are both next generation planes.

The AVIRISng plane is equipped with detecting where methane is found and gives a great detail of its location.  The methane emissions may not be a threat to public safety and health conditions.  But the experts believe that if it is coupled with hydrocarbon emissions then it will surely lead to formation of smog which may cause respiratory diseases.

Scientists are still wondering why the Four Corners of the US is filled with methane gas and emitting so much of it.  To give you an idea of how much methane, a considerable amount is almost equivalent to nearly 15 million tons of the harmful carbon dioxide.

Meanwhile satellite data shows from the period of 2003 to 2009, it is seen that no fracking or hydraulic fracturing was done and that is for both gas and oil.  Researchers say that these activities contribute to methane emissions source.

Prevention is somewhat difficult since the Four Corners is known for areas of coal mining and methane-rich bed which provides around 8% of the country's naturally emitted gas.