The history of the journal Oceanological Research began with the creation of the National Geophysical Committee during the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. The international polar years were held earlier in 1882-1883 and in 1932-1933. The proposal to hold the International Geophysical Year came from the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics.

In 2017, the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences decided to publish its electronic journal. In agreement with the National Geophysical Committee of the Russian Academy of Sciences, it was decided to continue the issues of Oceanological Research, that is, to publish a new electronic journal, continuing a series of early publications. The first and only issue of volume 45 for 2017 was released in December 2017.