Final answer:
Western intensification causes currents on the western side of oceanic gyres to be stronger than on the eastern side, due to the Earth's rotation and the Coriolis effect, influencing their velocity and direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement refers to western intensification, a phenomenon in oceanography where the currents on the western side of oceanic gyres are faster, deeper, and narrower than those on the eastern side. This effect is primarily due to the rotation of the Earth, which through the Coriolis effect, causes water to pile up on the western edges of ocean basins and leads to stronger currents.
The Coriolis force affects large-scale fluid motions like wind patterns and ocean currents, causing movement to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This intensification increases the velocity of currents and influences their direction and shape, contributing to the distinct patterns observed in gyres such as the Great Pacific Gyre, notable for its accumulation of plastic waste.