Why doesn't earth's surface resemble that of mercury?

Answer 1

There are a number of reasons. The key to it is that Earth has a substantial atmosphere while Mercury does not. Earth's atmosphere allows presence of liquid water, which in turn allows Earth to support life. Wind, water, and life are important forces in eroding and, in some cases, building Earth's surface features. Water also works its way into Earth's mantle, turning part of it into the sof asthenosphere, which no other known planet has. This, and Earth's hotter interior allows for plate tectonics, which slowly but continuously reshape Earth's surface. So Earth's surface ins constantly subjected to continuous change as old features are destroyed and new ones arise.

Mercury has none of these traits, and its only substantial surface features are impact craters. With no active forces at work on Mercury, these craters will remain unaltered for billions of years.

Answer 2

Mercury and Earth have different surface conditions due to various factors such as temperature, size, and geological processes. Mercury is much smaller and closer to the sun, resulting in extreme temperature variations between its hot and cold sides. Earth, on the other hand, has a more stable climate and active geological processes like tectonic movement and erosion that constantly reshape its surface.