Which of the following forces slows down wind, especially near the surface?

Friction is the force that acts to slow down wind, particularly close to the Earth's surface. It arises from the interaction of wind with the various surfaces it encounters, such as land, water, vegetation, and buildings. This interaction disrupts the flow of air, leading to a reduction in wind speed.

Near the surface, wind must contend with these obstacles, which creates turbulence and a drag effect that effectively diminishes its velocity. This is especially important in meteorology, as it affects weather systems and the dynamics of wind patterns, causing winds to behave differently at ground level than they do in the upper atmosphere, where friction is negligible.

While forces like the Coriolis Force, Pressure Gradient Force, and Centripetal Force play significant roles in wind movement and direction, they do not serve to slow down the wind in the same way that friction does. The Coriolis Force influences the direction of wind due to the Earth's rotation, the Pressure Gradient Force causes wind to accelerate from areas of high pressure to low pressure, and Centripetal Force is related to the curved paths of moving air but does not contribute to slowing it down.