1994
Habilitation (Geophysics), CAU Kiel.

1987
PhD, CAU Kiel.

1982
Diploma Geophysics, CAU Kiel.

Since 1995
Professor of Geophysics at CAU, Director at the Institute of Geosciences and head of near surface geophysics and seismic working groups. Research themes: Near surface geophysics: development of multi-sensor systems for near surface geophysical exploration, archaeological and environmental prospecting, 3D shear wave seismics, development of geophysical methods to analyse soils, application of shear wave seismics to investigate sedimentation in mediterranean coastal areas. Rock physics: development of methods for the joint interpretation of petrological and seismic lab and in situ data; Seismic properties of the upper and middle crust: Application of vertical seismic profiling to investigate the structure and state of fault zones at depth with high resolution (PI of major international research project at the KTB), determination of seismic anisotropy of sedimentary and crystalline sequences in situ and their relation to fractures. Structure of the crust and upper mantle: deep seismic refraction and reflection profiling of the N-German and Donbas-Basins (DEKORP and DOBRE projects), teleseismic transect across the Trans-European Suture zone between Germany and Sweden (TOR project). Seismological investigation of the Central American subduction zone (within SFB574 ‘Volatiles and Fluids in Subduction zones, since 2004).

1989 - 1995
Assistent professor at CAU. Research themes: Deep crustal seismics: structure of the lower crust in N and S Germany based on seismic refraction and reflection (DEKORP project); investigation of seismic anisotropy in situ: vertical seismic profiling at the Continental Deep Drill hole KTB, deep crustal seismic investigation of laminated lower crust, determination of elastic tensors in situ and their relation to rock fabric and crack alignment; exploration seismics: development of data adaptive seismic processing methods (CRE stacking); development of new methods to determine fracture permeability and transmissivity using tube-waves.

1983 - 1989
Research scientist at CAU. Research themes: Global earth deformation: atmospheric and ocean loading affecting gravity, deformation and very-long-baseline-interferometry; seismic ray theory: Gaussian beam and edge wave theory; near surface geophysics: investigation of shallow fault zones with P- and S-waves and geomagnetic measurements; application of P-and S-wave seismics in environmental studies and prospecting.

2011
Rabbel, W., I. Koulakov, A. N. Dinc and A. Jakovlev: Arc-parallel shear deformation and escape flow in the mantle wedge of the Central America subduction zone: Evidence from P wave anisotropy. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 12, Article No. Q05S31, doi: 10.1029/2010GC003325

2011
Dinc, A. N., W. Rabbel, E. R. Flueh and W. Taylor: Mantle wedge hydration in Nicaragua from local earthquake tomography. Geophys. J. Int. 186, 99-112, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2011.05041.x

2011
Dzierma, Y., W. Rabbel, M.M. Thorwart, E.R. Flueh, M. M. Mora, and G. E. Alvarado: The steeply subducting edge of the Cocos Ridge - Evidence from receiver functions beneath the northern Talamanca Range (south-central Costa Rica). Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 12, Article No. Q04S30, doi:10.1029/2010GC003477

2010
Dinc, N. A., Koulakov, I., Thorwart, M., Rabbel, W., Flueh, E. R., Arroyo, I., Taylor, W., Alvarado, G.: Local Earthquake Tomography of Central Costa Rica: Transition from seamount to ridge subduction. Geophys. J. Int. 183, 286-302, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04717.x

2010
Rabbel, W.: Seismic methods. In: R. Kirsch (ed.), Groundwater Geophysics, 2nd edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 23-83

2010
Gregersen, S., Voss P., Nielsen, L.V., Achauer, U., Busche, H., Rabbel, W., Shomali, Z. H.: Uniqueness of modeling results from teleseismic P-Wave tomography in Project Tor. Tectonophysics 481, 99-107, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.01.020

2010
Schneider von Deimling, J., Greinert, J., Chapman, N. R., Rabbel, W., Linke, P.: Acoustic imaging of natural gas seepage in the North Sea: Sensing bubbles controlled by variable currents. Limnology & Oceanography: Methods 8,155-171. doi: 10.4319/lom.2010.8.155

2010
Strahser, M., al Hagrey, S. A., Rabbel, W.: CO2-migration in saline formation: first results of geoelectric and seismic numeric modeling. In: Mitteilungen, Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft 2: 4-14.

2009
Wilken, D., Wölz, S., Müller, C., Rabbel, W. (2009): FINOSEIS: A new approach to offshore-building foundation soil analysis using high resolution reflection seismic and Scholte-wave dispersion analysis. Jounal of Applied Geophysics 68, 117-123, doi:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2008.11.003

2009
Brown, J. R., Beroza, G. C., Ide, S., Ohta, K., Shelly, D. R., Schwartz, S. Y., Rabbel, W., Thorwart, M., and Kao, H.: Deep low-frequency earthquakes in tremor localize to the plate interface in multiple subduction zones. Geophys. Res. Lett. 36: L19306, doi:10.1029/2009GL040027.

2009
Stümpel, H.; Erkul, E.; Rabbel, W.: Der Baustoff Lehm in der archäo-geophysikalischen Prospektion. In: Götze, H.-J.; Rabbel, W. (ed.): 69. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft in Kiel (69. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft in Kiel, Kiel 23. - 26.03.2009).

2009
Glomb, V., Erkul, E., Stümpel, H., Rabbel, W.: Geoelektrik im Flachwasserbereich – erste Ergebnisse . In: Götze, H.-J. ; Rabbel, W. (Hg.): 69. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft in Kiel (69. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft in Kiel, Kiel 23. - 26.03.2009): 71-72

2008
Müller, C., Woelz, S., Ersoy, Y., Boyce, J., Jokisch, T., Wendt, G., Rabbel, W.: Ultra-High-Resolution Marine 2D-3D Seismic Investigation of the Liman Tepe/Karantina Island Archaeological Site (Urla/Turkey). In: Journal of Applied Geophysics. doi:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2008.10.015.

2008
Werban, U., al Hagrey, S. A., Rabbel, W.: Monitoring of root zone water content in the laboratory by 2D geoelectrical tomography. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 171: 927-935. doi:10.1002/jpln.200700145.

2008
Woelz, S., Rabbel, W., Müller, C.: Shear waves in near surface 3D media - SH-wavefield separation, refraction time migration and tomography. Journal of Applied Geophysics. doi:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2008.11.004.

2007
Strahser M, Rabbel W, Schildknecht, F: Polarization and slowness of seismoelectric signals – a case study. Near Surface Geophysics 5, 97-114.

2006
Petersen H, Fleige H, Rabbel W, Horn R: Geophysical methods for imaging soil compaction and the variability of soil texture on farm land. In: R. Horn, H. Fleige, S. Peth and X. Peng (eds.), Soil Management for Sustainability. International Union of Soil Science, Advances in Geoecology 38, 261-272

2006
Meissner, R., W. Rabbel, and H. Kern: Seismic Lamination and Anisotropy of the Lower Continental Crust. Tectonophysics 416, 81-99

2009
Dzierma, Y.: A receiver function study of Southern Costa Rica : indications of steep Cocos Ridge subduction

2009
Schneider von Deimling, J.: Hydroacoustic and geochemical traces of marine gas seepage in the North Sea

2009
Willert-Arndt, S.: Seismische Untersuchungen zur geotektonischen Enwicklung des deutschen Nordsee-Beckens

2009
Wilken,D.: Zur Anwendung von Schwarmintelligenz-Optimierung auf die Dispersionsanpassung von Scholtewellen

2008
Dinc, A.N.: Local earthquake tomography of Central America : structural variations and fluid transport in the Nicaragua-Costa Rica subduction zone

2007
Strahser, S.: Near surface seismoelectrics in comparative field studies

2007
Wagner, D.: Tomographic investigation of the crust of Central Java, Indonesia

2006
Werban, U.: Geophysikalische Erfassung von Feuchte- und Substratheterogenitäten im Boden auf unterschiedlichen Skalen.

2004
Bilgili, F.: Bestimmung des Bebauungsgrades von archäologischen Stätten durch statistische Analyse geomagnetischer Daten.

2003
Wölz, S.: From low to high fidelity geophysics : 3-D multi-component shallow seismic surveying in the Lions’ Harbour of Miletus (Turkey).

2003
Trela, Ch.: Seismische Untersuchungen der kristallinen Kruste an der KTB-Lokation.

2003
Klein, G.: Dispersive seismic waves in shallow marine environments.

2003
Beilecke, Th. (2003): The seismic conversion log and its application to vertical seismic profiling at the German Continental Deep Drilling Site (KTB).