diff --git a/examples/measure.html b/examples/measure.html
index 2a1773f053..0341173c75 100644
--- a/examples/measure.html
+++ b/examples/measure.html
@@ -75,10 +75,11 @@
                 <option value="length">Length</option>
                 <option value="area">Area</option>
               </select>
+              <label class="checkbox"><input type="checkbox" id="geodesic"/>use geodesic measures</label>
           </form>
 
           <div id="docs">
-              <p><i>NOTE: Measure is done in simple way on projected plane. Earth
+              <p><i>NOTE: If use geodesic measures is not checked, measure is done in simple way on projected plane. Earth
               curvature is not taken into account</i></p>
             <p>See the <a href="measure.js" target="_blank">measure.js source</a> to see how this is done.</p>
           </div>
diff --git a/examples/measure.js b/examples/measure.js
index 127eeaf275..c437e778c2 100644
--- a/examples/measure.js
+++ b/examples/measure.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 goog.require('ol.Map');
 goog.require('ol.Overlay');
+goog.require('ol.Sphere');
 goog.require('ol.View');
 goog.require('ol.geom.LineString');
 goog.require('ol.geom.Polygon');
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ goog.require('ol.interaction');
 goog.require('ol.interaction.Draw');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Tile');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Vector');
+goog.require('ol.proj');
 goog.require('ol.source.MapQuest');
 goog.require('ol.source.Vector');
 goog.require('ol.style.Circle');
@@ -14,6 +16,9 @@ goog.require('ol.style.Fill');
 goog.require('ol.style.Stroke');
 goog.require('ol.style.Style');
 
+
+var wgs84Sphere = new ol.Sphere(6378137);
+
 var raster = new ol.layer.Tile({
   source: new ol.source.MapQuest({layer: 'sat'})
 });
@@ -135,6 +140,7 @@ var map = new ol.Map({
 map.on('pointermove', pointerMoveHandler);
 
 var typeSelect = document.getElementById('type');
+var geodesicCheckbox = document.getElementById('geodesic');
 
 var draw; // global so we can remove it later
 function addInteraction() {
@@ -238,7 +244,19 @@ typeSelect.onchange = function(e) {
  * @return {string}
  */
 var formatLength = function(line) {
-  var length = Math.round(line.getLength() * 100) / 100;
+  var length;
+  if (geodesicCheckbox.checked) {
+    var coordinates = line.getCoordinates();
+    length = 0;
+    var sourceProj = map.getView().getProjection();
+    for (var i = 0, ii = coordinates.length - 1; i < ii; ++i) {
+      var c1 = ol.proj.transform(coordinates[i], sourceProj, 'EPSG:4326');
+      var c2 = ol.proj.transform(coordinates[i + 1], sourceProj, 'EPSG:4326');
+      length += wgs84Sphere.haversineDistance(c1, c2);
+    }
+  } else {
+    length = Math.round(line.getLength() * 100) / 100;
+  }
   var output;
   if (length > 100) {
     output = (Math.round(length / 1000 * 100) / 100) +
@@ -257,7 +275,16 @@ var formatLength = function(line) {
  * @return {string}
  */
 var formatArea = function(polygon) {
-  var area = polygon.getArea();
+  var area;
+  if (geodesicCheckbox.checked) {
+    var sourceProj = map.getView().getProjection();
+    var geom = /** @type {ol.geom.Polygon} */(polygon.clone().transform(
+        sourceProj, 'EPSG:4326'));
+    var coordinates = geom.getLinearRing(0).getCoordinates();
+    area = Math.abs(wgs84Sphere.geodesicArea(coordinates));
+  } else {
+    area = polygon.getArea();
+  }
   var output;
   if (area > 10000) {
     output = (Math.round(area / 1000000 * 100) / 100) +
diff --git a/src/ol/sphere/sphere.js b/src/ol/sphere/sphere.js
index 7dd37905d8..f192cb6187 100644
--- a/src/ol/sphere/sphere.js
+++ b/src/ol/sphere/sphere.js
@@ -57,6 +57,36 @@ ol.Sphere.prototype.cosineDistance = function(c1, c2) {
 };
 
 
+/**
+ * Returns the geodesic area for a list of coordinates.
+ *
+ * [Reference](http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/handle/2014/40409)
+ * Robert. G. Chamberlain and William H. Duquette, "Some Algorithms for
+ * Polygons on a Sphere", JPL Publication 07-03, Jet Propulsion
+ * Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, June 2007
+ *
+ * @param {Array.<ol.Coordinate>} coordinates List of coordinates of a linear
+ * ring. If the ring is oriented clockwise, the area will be positive,
+ * otherwise it will be negative.
+ * @return {number} Area.
+ * @api
+ */
+ol.Sphere.prototype.geodesicArea = function(coordinates) {
+  var area = 0, len = coordinates.length;
+  var x1 = coordinates[len - 1][0];
+  var y1 = coordinates[len - 1][1];
+  for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+    var x2 = coordinates[i][0], y2 = coordinates[i][1];
+    area += goog.math.toRadians(x2 - x1) *
+        (2 + Math.sin(goog.math.toRadians(y1)) +
+        Math.sin(goog.math.toRadians(y2)));
+    x1 = x2;
+    y1 = y2;
+  }
+  return area * this.radius * this.radius / 2.0;
+};
+
+
 /**
  * Returns the distance of c3 from the great circle path defined by c1 and c2.
  *
@@ -110,6 +140,7 @@ ol.Sphere.prototype.finalBearing = function(c1, c2) {
  * @param {ol.Coordinate} c1 Coordinate 1.
  * @param {ol.Coordinate} c2 Coordinate 2.
  * @return {number} Haversine distance.
+ * @api
  */
 ol.Sphere.prototype.haversineDistance = function(c1, c2) {
   var lat1 = goog.math.toRadians(c1[1]);
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/format/wkt/illinois.wkt b/test/spec/ol/format/wkt/illinois.wkt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..581a1eb833
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/spec/ol/format/wkt/illinois.wkt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+MULTIPOLYGON(((-88.071564 37.51099,-88.087883 37.476273,-88.311707 37.442852,-88.359177 37.409309,-88.419853 37.420292,-88.467644 37.400757,-88.511322 37.296852,-88.501427 37.257782,-88.450699 37.205669,-88.422516 37.15691,-88.45047 37.098671,-88.476799 37.072144,-88.4907 37.06818,-88.517273 37.06477,-88.559273 37.072815,-88.61422 37.109047,-88.68837 37.13541,-88.739113 37.141182,-88.746506 37.152107,-88.863289 37.202194,-88.932503 37.218407,-88.993172 37.220036,-89.065033 37.18586,-89.116821 37.112137,-89.146347 37.093185,-89.169548 37.064236,-89.174332 37.025711,-89.150246 36.99844,-89.12986 36.988113,-89.193512 36.986771,-89.210052 37.028973,-89.237679 37.041733,-89.264053 37.087124,-89.284233 37.091244,-89.303291 37.085384,-89.3097 37.060909,-89.264244 37.027733,-89.262001 37.008686,-89.282768 36.999207,-89.310982 37.009682,-89.38295 37.049213,-89.37999 37.099083,-89.423798 37.137203,-89.440521 37.165318,-89.468216 37.224266,-89.465309 37.253731,-89.489594 37.256001,-89.513885 37.276402,-89.513885 37.304962,-89.50058 37.329441,-89.468742 37.339409,-89.435738 37.355717,-89.427574 37.411018,-89.453621 37.453186,-89.494781 37.491726,-89.524971 37.571957,-89.513367 37.615929,-89.51918 37.650375,-89.513374 37.67984,-89.521523 37.694798,-89.581436 37.706104,-89.666458 37.745453,-89.675858 37.78397,-89.691055 37.804794,-89.728447 37.840992,-89.851715 37.905064,-89.861046 37.905487,-89.866814 37.891876,-89.900551 37.875904,-89.937874 37.878044,-89.978912 37.911884,-89.958229 37.963634,-90.010811 37.969318,-90.041924 37.993206,-90.119339 38.032272,-90.134712 38.053951,-90.207527 38.088905,-90.254059 38.122169,-90.289635 38.166817,-90.336716 38.188713,-90.364769 38.234299,-90.369347 38.323559,-90.358688 38.36533,-90.339607 38.390846,-90.301842 38.427357,-90.265785 38.518688,-90.26123 38.532768,-90.240944 38.562805,-90.183708 38.610271,-90.183578 38.658772,-90.20224 38.700363,-90.196571 38.723965,-90.163399 38.773098,-90.135178 38.785484,-90.121727 38.80051,-90.113121 38.830467,-90.132812 38.853031,-90.243927 38.914509,-90.278931 38.924717,-90.31974 38.924908,-90.413071 38.96233,-90.469841 38.959179,-90.530426 38.891609,-90.570328 38.871326,-90.627213 38.880795,-90.668877 38.935253,-90.70607 39.037792,-90.707588 39.058178,-90.690399 39.0937,-90.716736 39.144211,-90.718193 39.195873,-90.732338 39.224747,-90.738083 39.24781,-90.779343 39.296803,-90.850494 39.350452,-90.947891 39.400585,-91.036339 39.444412,-91.064384 39.473984,-91.093613 39.528927,-91.156189 39.552593,-91.203247 39.600021,-91.317665 39.685917,-91.367088 39.72464,-91.373421 39.761272,-91.381714 39.803772,-91.449188 39.863049,-91.450989 39.885242,-91.434052 39.901829,-91.430389 39.921837,-91.447243 39.946064,-91.487289 40.005753,-91.504005 40.066711,-91.516129 40.134544,-91.506546 40.200459,-91.498932 40.251377,-91.486694 40.309624,-91.448593 40.371902,-91.418816 40.386875,-91.385757 40.392361,-91.372757 40.402988,-91.385399 40.44725,-91.374794 40.503654,-91.382103 40.528496,-91.412872 40.547993,-91.411118 40.572971,-91.37561 40.603439,-91.262062 40.639545,-91.214912 40.643818,-91.162498 40.656311,-91.129158 40.682148,-91.119987 40.705402,-91.092751 40.761547,-91.088905 40.833729,-91.04921 40.879585,-90.983276 40.923927,-90.960709 40.950504,-90.954651 41.070362,-90.957787 41.104359,-90.990341 41.144371,-91.018257 41.165825,-91.05632 41.176258,-91.101524 41.231522,-91.102348 41.267818,-91.07328 41.334896,-91.055786 41.401379,-91.027489 41.423508,-91.000694 41.431084,-90.949654 41.421234,-90.844139 41.444622,-90.7799 41.449821,-90.708214 41.450062,-90.658791 41.462318,-90.6007 41.509586,-90.54084 41.52597,-90.454994 41.527546,-90.434967 41.543579,-90.423004 41.567272,-90.348366 41.586849,-90.339348 41.602798,-90.341133 41.64909,-90.326027 41.722736,-90.304886 41.756466,-90.25531 41.781738,-90.195839 41.806137,-90.154518 41.930775,-90.14267 41.983963,-90.150536 42.033428,-90.168098 42.061043,-90.166649 42.103745,-90.176086 42.120502,-90.191574 42.122688,-90.230934 42.159721,-90.323601 42.197319,-90.367729 42.210209,-90.407173 42.242645,-90.417984 42.263924,-90.427681 42.340633,-90.441597 42.360073,-90.491043 42.388783,-90.563583 42.421837,-90.605827 42.46056,-90.648346 42.475643,-90.651772 42.494698,-90.638329 42.509361,-90.419975 42.508362,-89.923569 42.504108,-89.834618 42.50346,-89.400497 42.49749,-89.359444 42.497906,-88.939079 42.490864,-88.764954 42.490906,-88.70652 42.489655,-88.297897 42.49197,-88.194702 42.489613,-87.79731 42.489132,-87.836945 42.314213,-87.760239 42.156456,-87.670547 42.059822,-87.612625 41.847332,-87.529861 41.723591,-87.532646 41.469715,-87.532448 41.301304,-87.531731 41.173756,-87.532021 41.00993,-87.532669 40.745411,-87.53717 40.49461,-87.535675 40.483246,-87.535339 40.166195,-87.535774 39.887302,-87.535576 39.609341,-87.538567 39.477448,-87.540215 39.350525,-87.597664 39.338268,-87.625237 39.307404,-87.610619 39.297661,-87.615799 39.281418,-87.606895 39.258163,-87.584564 39.248753,-87.588593 39.208466,-87.594208 39.198128,-87.607925 39.196068,-87.644257 39.168507,-87.670326 39.146679,-87.659454 39.130653,-87.662262 39.113468,-87.631668 39.103943,-87.630867 39.088974,-87.612007 39.084606,-87.58532 39.062435,-87.581749 38.995743,-87.591858 38.994083,-87.547905 38.977077,-87.53347 38.963703,-87.530182 38.931919,-87.5392 38.904861,-87.559059 38.869812,-87.550507 38.857891,-87.507889 38.795559,-87.519028 38.776699,-87.508003 38.769722,-87.508316 38.736633,-87.543892 38.685974,-87.588478 38.672169,-87.625191 38.642811,-87.628647 38.622917,-87.619827 38.599209,-87.640594 38.593178,-87.652855 38.573872,-87.672943 38.547424,-87.65139 38.515369,-87.653534 38.500443,-87.679909 38.504005,-87.692818 38.481533,-87.756096 38.466125,-87.758659 38.457096,-87.738953 38.44548,-87.748428 38.417965,-87.784019 38.378124,-87.834503 38.352524,-87.850082 38.286098,-87.863007 38.285362,-87.874039 38.316788,-87.883446 38.315552,-87.888466 38.300659,-87.914108 38.281048,-87.913651 38.302345,-87.925919 38.304771,-87.980019 38.241085,-87.986008 38.234814,-87.977928 38.200714,-87.932289 38.171131,-87.931992 38.157528,-87.950569 38.136913,-87.973503 38.13176,-88.018547 38.103302,-88.012329 38.092346,-87.964867 38.096748,-87.975296 38.073307,-88.034729 38.054085,-88.043091 38.04512,-88.041473 38.038303,-88.021698 38.033531,-88.029213 38.008236,-88.021706 37.975056,-88.042511 37.956264,-88.041771 37.934498,-88.064621 37.929783,-88.078941 37.944,-88.084 37.92366,-88.030441 37.917591,-88.026588 37.905758,-88.044868 37.896004,-88.100082 37.90617,-88.101456 37.895306,-88.075737 37.867809,-88.034241 37.843746,-88.042137 37.827522,-88.089264 37.831249,-88.086029 37.817612,-88.035576 37.805683,-88.072472 37.735401,-88.133636 37.700745,-88.15937 37.660686,-88.157631 37.628479,-88.134171 37.583572,-88.071564 37.51099)))
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/sphere/sphere.test.js b/test/spec/ol/sphere/sphere.test.js
index 63ee5434a6..465a42bcbe 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/sphere/sphere.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/sphere/sphere.test.js
@@ -264,8 +264,30 @@ describe('ol.Sphere', function() {
 
   });
 
+  describe('Vincenty area', function() {
+    var geometry;
+    before(function(done) {
+      afterLoadText('spec/ol/format/wkt/illinois.wkt', function(wkt) {
+        try {
+          var format = new ol.format.WKT();
+          geometry = format.readGeometry(wkt);
+        } catch (e) {
+          done(e);
+        }
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('results match the expected area of Ilinois', function() {
+      var coords = geometry.getPolygon(0).getLinearRing(0).getCoordinates();
+      expect(ol.sphere.WGS84.geodesicArea(coords)).to.equal(145978332359.37125);
+    });
+  });
+
 });
 
 
 goog.require('goog.math');
 goog.require('ol.Sphere');
+goog.require('ol.sphere.WGS84');
+goog.require('ol.format.WKT');