The Geophysical Observatory was founded in 1957 as a contribution of Ethiopia to the International Geophysical Year (IGY). It started its scientific activity with geomagnetic recording, which was followed by astronomical, meteorological and seismological observations between 1957 and 1959. In subsequent years the geomagnetic observation included the study of micropulsation of the field and monitoring of the equatorial ionosphere. In 1962 the seismic observation was upgraded to be part of the World-Wide Seismographic Station Network (WWSSN) through agreement with the US Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Office of Geophysical Observatory, Faculty of Science, AAU

In the meanwhile work in applied geophysics, geology and tectonics elaborating the structure of the rift system in the context of global plate tectonics was carried out identifying a rift-in-rift structure in the Main Ethiopian Rift and the Afar Depression. Further, significant geophysical and geodetic projects were carried out between 1974 and 2006 determining the structure of the lithosphere, the geodynamics of the rift systems ranging from continental to incipient oceanic rift. The series of measurements conducted over a period of thirty years improved the resolution and dimension giving relatively more precise geophysical and geodynamic pictures.

The contribution of the scientific study by the Observatory in mitigating the effects of natural hazards and localization of resource potential, in particular ground water, has been important in years of draught.