Satellites have detected an apparent hotspot in southwestern U.S. emitting an enormous amount of methane, a deadly greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change. 

The hotspot is located in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico and accounts for 10 percent of all methane from natural gases emanating from the U.S. The methane producing area is about half the size of Connecticut and is apparently in a coal producing area.

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NASA's satellite data reveals the hotspot covers some 2,500 square miles and produced about 590,000 metric tons of methane every year from 2003 to 2009. This total is triple the amount estimated by recent studies.

Natural gas consists of 98 percent methane and is about 25 times more likely to trap heat in the atmosphere as opposed to carbon dioxide.

According to a NASA study, the gas is being emitted by fracking or hydraulic fracturing wells operating in this area. In fracking, pressurized liquid is injected into deep rock formations to recover natural gases embedded deep inside the Earth.

The methane problem lies not only with fracking and mining but also with other existing industries as well, said Eric Kort, lead author of the study. Kort adds these results indicate emissions from fossil fuel harvesting are greater than anticipated. The focus on hydraulic fracturing should also be reconsidered, he said.

This satellite data was collected by NASA's Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY) instrument that can detect enormous amounts of methane. Methane gas is colorless and odorless and can only be detected by advanced scientific instruments.

Last March, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a strategy to counter excessive methane emissions under the Climate Action Plan that will further improve monitoring and measurement methods.

This report was published in the journal, Geophysical Research Letters. 

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