Infrared thermography was used to study the effect of a spherical particle on the local heat transfer from a heated plate. The measurement of the temperature field with the particle and without it showed that the heat transfer coefficient increased locally by a factor of 1.5-3, for a particle of the order d(p)(+) = 10-25. A general decrease in the wall temperature was observed in the region under and in front of the particle. No effect of the particle material was noted. The temperature fluctuations at a point on the heated plate were also studied. These fluctuations are related to the bursting process in the turbulent flow. The bursting period increased by 60-70% for the flow near the particle, whereas the root mean square of the temperature fluctuations decreased up to 2.5 times. This may mean that the heat transfer enhancement is governed by a mechanism other than the change in the turbulence structure. Numerical computations of the flow field near the spherical particle were performed. These clearly indicate that fluid from the mainstream is directed towards the bottom of the flume, in front of the particle, thus cooling the heated surface. One can conclude that the change in the velocity profile near the wall caused by the particle is the reason for the local heat transfer enhancement.