Earth observations taken by the Expedition 14 crew

ISS014-E-16597 (10 March 2007) --- Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 14 crewmember on the International Space Station. The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of approximately 150 islands, is located some 44 kilometers southwest of the westernmost point of England (Land's End). According to scientists, the islands are an erosional remnant of an ancient granite intrusion, and are notable because they have been inhabited for over 4000 years. Historical and geological evidence cited by NASA scientists on the Isles indicates that many of the islands were larger and/or connected in the recent past--this could be due to local subsidence, rising sea levels, or a combination of both factors. Even today, it is possible to walk between certain islands during low tides. The Isles have been designated a United Kingdom Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty due to their unique landscape, ecology, and historical significance. The potential effect of rising sea level on the Isles is a primary concern for both long-term ecosystem health and human habitability. This image illustrates the geographic configuration of the archipelago, and its effect on ocean wave patterns. Long linear swells oriented northeast-southwest and moving to the southeast (from upper left to lower right) are diffracted (bent) as they approach the coastlines and small shoals of the Isles. The wave diffraction forms complex interacting surface patterns--this is most clearly visible southwest of St. Mary's island (left). The dominant ocean wave pattern resumes to the southeast of St. Mary's, but with an additional northwest-southeast oriented pattern superimposed, possibly due to winds originating in the English channel to the east (not shown). Suspended, tan-colored sediments visible within and around the archipelago are locally derived from continuing wave erosion of the granite forming the islands and remobilization of beach sands. Bright white areas in the photograph are waves breaking on shoals.