Final answer:
High pressure near Earth's surface is associated with descending air which promotes clear skies and can sometimes lead to cold surface temperatures, especially when the skies remain clear at night allowing heat to escape.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering what is generally associated with high pressure near Earth's surface, it is important to understand atmospheric circulation patterns. High pressure systems are areas where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment. In the Northern Hemisphere, high-pressure systems are characterized by air that descends from higher in the atmosphere down towards the ground, leading to clear skies and fewer clouds since this descending air inhibits the formation of clouds. Therefore, high-pressure systems are often associated with stable, dry weather conditions.
Given the options provided, the one associated with high pressure near Earth's surface is d. cold surface temperatures. Although not always the case, high pressure systems can sometimes bring colder temperatures, especially during the winter months, due to the clear skies allowing heat to escape during the night. It's also worth mentioning that option e. counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere is characteristic of low-pressure systems due to the Coriolis force, not high-pressure systems.