Uplift gradients can provide the location of highly strained zones,
which can be considered to be seismic. The Turan block (Central Asia)
contains zones with high gradient of uplift velocities, above the
threshold 0.04mm km-1year-1. Some of these zones are associated with
important seismic activity and others are not correlated with any
recent important recorded earthquakes, however, recent faults scarps
as well as diverted rivers may indicate a recent tectonic activity.
This threshold of gradient is probably a significant rheologic property
of the upper crust. On the basis of these considerations the Uzboy
river area is proposed as a potential high seismic hazard zone.