A coupled one-dimensional air-sea interface transfer (INTRA) model has been developed to investigate atmosphere-ocean heat transfer processes characterized by periodic wave breaking. Breaking wave and intact surface conditions are incorporated into the model by attributing different transport properties to near-interface layers. The INTRA model is forced by time-variable heat fluxes at the air-sea interface and with wind speed and temperature at 10-m height. The model is validated by using ocean basin scale and high-resolution local observations that capture fine-scale thermal processes at the air-sea-interface. Small differences are found when comparing model output to extensive observations that include a broad range of atmospheric and oceanic conditions collected during a meridional transect of the Atlantic Ocean. Model results simulating the local thermal surface signature of breaking waves show very good agreement with observations made by using a thermal infrared camera. The INTRA model will be of particular use for reconciling the differences between sea surface temperatures observed by using conventional in situ observations and those derived from satellite infrared remote sensing techniques. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union