What influences surface air more strongly, affecting wind speed and direction?

Frictional effects are the primary influence on surface air, as they significantly impact wind speed and direction. When air moves over the Earth's surface, it encounters various obstacles, such as buildings, trees, and terrain. This friction decreases the wind speed compared to winds aloft, which move without such impediments. Additionally, friction changes the wind's direction—winds slow down and tend to veer when they encounter surface features, affecting how they flow from high-pressure to low-pressure areas.

Temperature effects play a crucial role in creating pressure differences, which drive winds; however, they do not influence surface winds as directly as friction does. Geographical features are important in terms of how they shape local weather patterns and airflow but do not directly affect the wind's immediate characteristics at the surface. Humidity levels can influence air density and buoyancy, impacting overall air movement; however, they do not have as immediate an effect on wind speed and direction as friction from the Earth's surface does. Therefore, frictional effects are the most critical in determining the behavior of surface winds.