Ten Tons on Your Shoulders

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 101,325 pascals — equivalent to roughly 10 metric tons of force on every square meter of surface. That includes your body. Meteorologists track pressure systems across continents, because the difference between fair weather and a severe storm often comes down to subtle pressure gradients.

You don't feel those 10 tons because the pressure inside your body pushes outward just as hard. The forces balance, so there's no net squeeze.