Emission spectroscopy is a 2-D nonintrusive diagnostic technique that offers spatially resolved data for combustion optimization and control. The UV and visible chemiluminescence of the excited radicals CH(A(2)Delta, B-2 Sigma(-)) and OH(A(2)Sigma(+)) is studied experimentally and numerically in opposed-flow diffusion flames of methane and oxygen-enriched air. The oxidized oxygen content is varied from 21 to 100% while the range of the studied strain rates spans from 20 to 40 s(-1). The spectrally resolved imaging is obtained by two different methods: scattering through a grating monochromator and interposition of interference filters along the optical path. Absolute measured chemiluminescence intensities, coupled with a numerical model based on the opposed flow flame code, are used to evaluate the chemical kinetics of the excited species. The predictions of the selected model are in good agreement with the experimental data over the range of the studied flame conditions. (C) 2007 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.