Mike asks:
"Could the gradual saponification of the oceans surfaces, by man, lessen surface tension?"

Could is an awfully general word so I would be inclined to say "yes" but realistically I think the chances minimal and putting that much digestable organics into the ocean more likely to lead to an algae bloom of some sort.

Interestingly enough, though, the result might be the same as algal blooms have a direct relationship to water vapour uptake.

DA Morgan