The size of the reservoir in a barometer

[gyshalom]

im learning that the weight of a coloum of mercury in a barometer is balanced by the air pressure working on the reservoir at the base of the mercury tube..does the surface area over which the air pressure works matter? i understand that it is the height of the coloum,not the over all mass of the liquid being balanced in the coloum that matters when it comes to pressure..does that mean that a ton of mercury can be sustained via air pressure working on a reservouir with one kilogram over all mass?

 

[pixel01]

The pressure depends only on the height no matter how big the reservoir is. One ton or any amount of mercury can be balanced by very small bulb in the other side.