Inertial range scalings of dissipation and enstrophy in isotropic turbulence

The inertial range scalings of local averages of energy dissipation rate and enstrophy (vorticity squared) are studied using high resolution direct numerical simulation data for homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. The Taylor microscale Reynolds number is 216. It is found that the enstrophy is more intermittent than dissipation, consistent with previous one-dimensional surrogate measurements at high Reynolds numbers. Contrary to some recent expectations, enstrophy and dissipation have different exponents. © 1997 The American Physical Society.