Founded in 1917 by Bjørn Helland-Hansen, the institute studies the field of oceanography dealing with the patterns of the weather in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Norway.

Shifts and fluctuations in these currents are monitored, as they are thought to be indicators for climate change.

Research has included CO2 sequestration and related matters dealing with Carbon capture and storage.

Previous directors were amongst others Dr. Peter M. Haugan, Nils Gunnar Kvamstø and Øystein Hov.

The Bergen School of Meteorology, which led to modern weather forecasting, was developed at the Geophysical Institute by Vilhelm Bjerknes and collaborators (including Carl-Gustaf Rossby) beginning in 1917.