Final answer:
An increasing tilt in the land surface along a fault indicates stress accumulation that could lead to an earthquake. Satellites monitoring this tilt provide crucial information about potential seismic activity, such as on the San Andreas Fault where significant slippages can occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
An increasing tilt in the land surface along a fault detected by satellites that monitors fault movements could indicate that stress is building up in the Earth's crust which could potentially lead to an earthquake. This tilting is a result of the creeping motion of tectonic plates against each other and is an important indicator of seismic activity. The San Andreas Fault in California is an example where significant movement can lead to major slippages, releasing accumulated stress in the form of an earthquake.
Considering the average movement of tectonic plates is about 5 cm/year, a significant buildup of stress could indicate that a large amount of slippage is required to release the pressure. For example, a gap of many years since the last earthquake could mean that when the plates finally slip, the earthquake produced might be particularly large.