A new study by Geographers at the University of Utah has come up with a heat map of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) sightings over the past two decades.

The study mentioned in the Daily Mail's report is considered to be the first step in mapping the aerial phenomenon.

Most of the UFO-related reports between 2001 to 2020 came from the western part of the United States with the vast majority of unexplained objects seen in Area 51 in Nevada, and Roswell in New Mexico. The heat map figured out by the researchers at the University of Utah equally found some red counties in the states of Oregon and Washington.

The findings of the study suggested that there is a close link between the UFO reports and the western states suggesting the fact that most of the area in the region receives rain showers very often and is 'relatively clouded', the Daily Mail's report added.

Along with the partnership established with the Pentagon's recently retired UFO chief Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, Geographers with the University of Utah closely studied hefty 98,000 UFO reports ranging from a minute incident to a well-documented incident, if any.

"The West has a historical relationship to UAP - Area 51 in Nevada, Roswell in New Mexico," The Mail quoted Richard Medina, Associate Professor, University of Utah and also the study's lead author, as saying.

The data was heavily cross-referenced by the researchers based on a variety of characteristics that influence the frequency of UFO sightings, such as the area population density, light pollution levels, annual cloud cover, "tree canopy" cover, proximity to airports and military bases, and more.

"And here in Utah we have Skinwalker Ranch in the Uinta Basin and military activity in the US Army Dugway Proving Ground,' Medina concluded.