Which mechanical risk increased for terraces after long abandonment?

💡 Explanation

Increased water saturation compacts unsaturated soils due to a loss of slope maintenance, promoting soil particle consolidation; this is geotechnical Consolidation Settlement. Consequently, the soil subsides rather than retaining its former height, because stabilization from vegetation is eliminated and other issues worsen during continued use.

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• Which risk increases when Inca terracing lacked drainage?
• Which outcome results when early maize cultivation practices degrade soil?
• In Agra's Mughal-era inlay, which degradation arises with fluctuating humidity?
• Which mathematical consequence helped Islamic engineers accurately determine the qibla direction using spherical astrolabes?