In rec.aviation.student Tina wrote:
Interesting phrase, "pushes down". Why would you think atmospheric
pressure pushes down?

It was just bad phrasing.

I was thinking about how atmospheric pressure is created by gravity
pulling the air down. But of course as you imply, the pressure itself
pushes in all directions.

--
Mike Ash
Radio Free Earth
Broadcasting from our climate-controlled studios deep inside the Moon