Magnetic configuration (a) and the corresponding kinematics of the CME precursors (b) during the initiation process. In panel (a), the yellow, pink, and cyan lines represent the CME precursor (flux rope), the overlying poloidal fields, and the toroidal fields associated with the fan–spine structure, respectively. In panel (b), the blue, yellow, and red bands indicate the three stages of the CME precursors. The black line with black dots shows the time–distance diagram of the CME precursors.