Combustion dynamics are controlled by the coupling between heat addition and gas dynamic modes, hence their direct measurement and comparisons with prediction are key to improving computational tools as well as our fundamental understanding of the problem. Whereas gas dynamic modes are relatively easy to measure and compare, measurement and characterization of heat addition are much more difficult due to its complexity and the lack of any direct means of measurement. This paper demonstrates several methods for characterizing and comparing heat release from experiment and simulation. A model rocket combustor is used for the study. Comparisons are made for two configurations, one stable and one unstable. High-speed, line-of-sight imaging of OH* emission from the experiment was first phase averaged, and then treated with an Abel inversion routine to produce a dynamic, two-dimensional field of heat addition. The field before inversion could be compared to line-integrated calculations of heat release rate from three-dimensional large eddy simulations, and after inversion to azimuthally averaged cross-sections from simulations. Modal decomposition analysis of the two-dimensional fields were performed. The applicability and limitations of each comparison approach are assessed. Nomenclature J 0 = zero-order Bessel function of the first kind L op = length of oxidizer post, mm|inch p′ = dynamic pressure, MPa P cc = chamber pressure, MPa Φ = equivalence ratio ′ = unsteady term of a variable ω = frequency, Hz