Modeling the thermal surface signature of breaking waves

A coupled one-dimensional air-sea interface transfer (INTRA) model has been developed to investigate atmosphere-ocean heat transfer processes characte rized by periodic wave breaking. Breaking wave and intact surface condition s are incorporated into the model by attributing different transport proper ties to near-interface layers. The INTRA model is forced by time-variable h eat 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-res olution 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 oc eanic conditions collected during a meridional transect of the Atlantic Oce an. Model results simulating the local thermal surface signature of breakin g 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 conventi onal in situ observations and those derived from satellite infrared remote sensing techniques.