What happens to wind direction due to friction near the ground?

Wind direction near the ground is influenced by friction, which causes the wind to deviate from the flow patterns typically seen in higher altitudes. In the absence of friction, winds tend to flow parallel to isobars due to the balance between pressure gradient forces and Coriolis forces. However, as wind interacts with the Earth's surface, friction slows it down, which diminishes the Coriolis effect.

This reduction in the Coriolis influence causes the wind to become less aligned with the isobars and instead angle across them. As a result, wind will move from high-pressure areas towards low-pressure areas but at an angle, typically about 30 degrees from the isobars. This angling is crucial for understanding weather patterns, as it impacts how air masses interact and can lead to the development of weather systems such as fronts and low-pressure areas.