Evolution of the set of dipped field lines that just graze the photosphere, i.e., the bald‐patch separatrix surface. (a) BPSS at t = 86, when rope emergence is stopped; (b) BPSS at t = 91, after the rope has broken in two; (c) BPSS at t = 106, showing the lowest (i.e., photosphere‐grazing) dipped field lines of the surviving rope; (d) central reconnection that breaks the flux rope in two. The two blue field lines exist at t = 89 and reconnect to form the two orange field lines at t = 90. The high, arched half of the pale blue BPSS field line reconnects with the high part of the dark blue field line, forming the light orange escaping flux rope line. The low, dipped half of the pale blue BPSS field line reconnects with the low part of the dark blue field line, forming the dark orange flux rope line that ultimately sinks down to be part of the BPSS of the rope that is left behind. This figure is also available as an mpeg animation.