The end of the cold war , which opened the way for new transpolar routes overflying russia , along with the development of ultra long-haul aircraft , has created new opportunities for non-stop services between asia and north america .
Vast currents and winds push the ice around the ocean , some of it remaining trapped in the huge beaufort gyre off the coast of alaska , where it ages and thickens , and some being spat out between greenland and siberia in the great transpolar drift stream .
This moved a lot of ice from the beaufort gyre , a revolving current in the western arctic , to the ocean 's other main current , the transpolar drift stream , which runs down the side of siberia .
