Charge and current systems associated with sprites constitute a part of the large scale atmospheric electric circuit, providing a context for physical understanding of recently discovered ELF radiation originating 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 quasielectrostatic fields produces significant electromagnetic radiation in the ELF range of frequencies, comparable to that radiated by the causative lightning discharge. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union