Transpolar Drift

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July 17, 2026

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The Transpolar Drift is a major current in the Arctic Ocean that carries sea ice from the eastern Arctic into the Atlantic Ocean, primarily through the Fram Strait and along Greenland's east coast. This drift is influenced by large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns, specifically a high-pressure center over the western Arctic, which can shift over time, altering the current's strength and position.1

The Transpolar Drift exports significant amounts of ice, with drift speeds averaging 10-15 km per day in the Fram Strait. This movement of ice is a key component of the Arctic Ocean's ice thickness distribution and plays a role in the overall climate system by influencing heat and moisture exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. The Greenland Current, which is partly fed by the East Greenland Current, also transports ice southward along Greenland's coast.123

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sea ice
Pack ice drift and thickness
…North American Arctic) and the Transpolar Drift (the major current flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from the eastern or Eurasian Arctic). The clockwise rotation of the Beaufort Gyre and the movement of the Transpolar Drift, the result of large-scale atmospheric circulation, are dominated by a high-pressure centre over the western…
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…North American Arctic) and the Transpolar Drift (the major current flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from the eastern or Eurasian Arctic). The clockwise rotation of the Beaufort Gyre and the movement of the Transpolar Drift, the result of large-scale atmospheric circulation, are dominated by a high-pressure centre over the western…
Read More