MECHANISM OF ELF RADIATION FROM SPRITES

Charge and current systems associated with sprites constitute a part o f the large scale atmospheric electric circuit, providing a context fo r physical understanding of recently discovered ELF radiation originat ing from currents flowing within the body of sprites. It is shown that the impulse of the electric current driven in the conducting body of the sprite by lightning generated transient quasi-electrostatic fields produces significant electromagnetic radiation in the ELF range of fr equencies, comparable to that radiated by the causative lightning disc harge.