Final answer:
The reversal of oceanic currents in the equatorial Pacific, known as El Niño, is associated with a band of warm ocean water that affects global weather patterns. El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, whereas La Niña represents the cool phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reversal of oceanic currents in the equatorial Pacific is commonly called El Niño. El Niño is a complex weather pattern resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. During an El Niño event, a band of warm ocean water develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. This has significant impacts on global weather patterns including but not limited to increased rainfall across the southern tier of the US and in Peru,
which can cause disastrous flooding, and drought in the West Pacific, sometimes associated with devastating bushfires in Australia. Conversely, the cool phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, known as La Niña, is characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific.