Which risk increases when ancient hillside terracing saturates?

💡 Explanation

Saturated terracing increases the risk of slope failure because increased pore water pressure reduces soil shear strength, causing landslides due to reduced frictional resistance, therefore hydrostatic pressure destabilizes, rather than erosion or nutrient loss being the primary immediate concern.

• Which mechanism limited the structural height achievable in early Gothic cathedrals (12th-13th century) before flying buttresses?
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• Which environmental transformation resulted from the extensive terrace cultivation practices employed by the Inca civilization?
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• Which outcome occurred when the builders of medieval cathedrals exceeded the compressive strength limitations of their masonry?