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The paper deals with spectroscopic studies on high enthalpy atmospheric pressure plasma flows generated with a divergent channel arc plasmatron, the line along which an essential progress has recently been made in Associated Institute for High Temperatures of the Russian Academy of Science. Argon and nitrogen are chosen as working media because they offer significant technological merits over most other gases. The spectra have been taken in the 200–950nm region with a high spectral resolution of∼0.01–0.02nm. Their evolution along the jet is investigated in combination with determining radial distributions of irradiating components through the Abel inversion. For extracting and processing a large amount of spectrometric information in a reasonable time, a purpose‐developed automated measuring system is employed. Described are the main basic principles and how the system works. Particular attention is given to spectrally determining the influence of a gas flow rate on the plasma parameters. Some possible mechanisms resulting in charged species formation in the far plasma relaxation zone where no electric fields and currents exist are briefly touched on.