A novel algorithm based on spectral analysis of time-resolved deflectometric measurements is developed to obtain statistics of the local scalar field in non-reacting or reacting turbulent flows. The algorithm has been used to investigate time-averaged axisymmetric jet with statistically stationary turbulence. The paper presents the theoretical framework of the algorithm and its validation using synthetic turbulent scalar data simulating refractive index difference field. Synthetic data are used to generate line-of-sight deflectometric data, which are subsequently used to determine the local distributions of mean and root-mean square (RMS) of refractive index difference, and related turbulence parameters. A comparison of direct and reconstructed profiles shows the promise of the algorithm to determine statistics of the local scalar field from the line-of-sight measurements in turbulent flows. Copyright © 2009 by A.K. Agrawal.